Tokyo's iconic Skytree, standing at 634 meters in Sumida Ward, is preparing to resume operations on the 26th after a brief closure initiated on the 23rd. This decision follows an incident on the evening of the 22nd, where two of the four elevators experienced an emergency stop, resulting in 20 passengers being trapped for over five hours. The management at Tobu Tower Skytree disclosed that the cause of this incident was a blown fuse in the control panel of the elevator machinery room, which is a significant detail impacting passenger safety protocols going forward.

During a press conference on the 25th, officials from Tobu Tower Skytree outlined the measures they plan to implement to prevent a recurrence of such incidents. The emergency stop not only affected the elevators directly involved in the incident but also prompted a precautionary halt of the remaining two elevators, resulting in about 1,200 visitors being stranded temporarily at viewpoints 350 and 450 meters above ground. The management undertook a thorough inspection of all elevators to ensure safety before resuming operations, reflecting a commitment to passenger safety and reassurance to the public.

This incident is not the first of its kind for the two elevators involved, named Autumn and Winter, which had prior malfunctions in 2015 and 2017, although the cause for the latter incident remained unidentified. With this recent failure and past issues, the company faces scrutiny regarding the reliability of its elevator systems, raising concerns about ongoing safety measures and potential impacts on visitor trust and tourism to one of Japan's most famous landmarks.