Since the last update, more and more people have become aware of the redevelopment plans for Jingu Gaien, and Tokyo Governor Koike seems to have taken notice.

I will report on the details below, but here’s a shorter version first:

More and more people are speaking up against the development, to the point where it can no longer be ignored. The Environmental Assessment Committee members have also expressed concerns about the project, followed by Governor Koike making an official request to the developer Mitsui Fudosan to improve. This is progress, but it is only the first step, and we must keep up the pressure. Numerous experts have told me that sustained public outcry is the only thing that will work. This week I will submit a request letter and a list of the petition signers to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Meiji Jingu, Mitsui Fudosan, Itochu and the Japan Sports Promotion Council. Hoping to have as many signatures as possible by 8 am Japan time on Thursday June 2, so please keep spreading the word!

The topics of this update are:

* Sharp increase in the number of signatures in support of the project, and buzz on social media

* Environmental assessment left pending, which is unusual

* Official request from the Governor of Tokyo to the developer, also unusual

* Petition to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly rejected

* Request letter and list of signers to be submitted to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the participating companies

* Media appearances this week

Sharp increase in the number of signatures in support of the project, and buzz on social media

The combination of a backlash when Mitsui Fudosan announced the site for the project which included a sketch that looks just like a shopping center, a 30-minute critical feature on NHK, and an article about my efforts with a provocative headline, added up to a lot of activity in a short period of time.

As a result, many people found out about the Jingu Gaien redevelopment project for the first time, and were shocked by what they learned.

Numerous celebrities and influencers took to social media to express their opposition, tweets about Jingu Gaien went viral, and for at one point "Jingu Gaien" was trending on Twitter in the Kanto region.

The number of signatures on this petition jumped to over 80,000 and the number of new followers on my Japanese Twitter account grew dramatically too.

Thank you everyone for all your support to get to this point!

Interestingly, if you look at the accounts that are tweeting criticism of the Jingu Gaien redevelopment project, you will see that people from various political positions, both on the right and left, are against it. This plan is so egregiously foolish that there is something in it to hate for everyone, regardless of ideology.

I’d like to take this opportunity to make the following clear: Although I am a resident and taxpayer of Japan, I do not have the right to vote here and I vote in my home country, the United States. I do not know much about the various Japanese political parties, and I do not support any particular Japanese politician or party.

I do not like putting labels on people nor rhetoric that incites division. In my day job as a management consultant, I often give seminars on diversity. I respect the diversity of those who have doubts about the Jingu Gaien redevelopment project. I would like to focus on what we have in common, not the differences between us. I’m willing to join forces with anyone who wants to protect the trees in the Jingu Gaien and calls for a review of the redevelopment plan.

Environmental assessment left pending, which is unusual

On May 26, a meeting of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's environmental assessment committee was held. Although it was supposed to be the final meeting, the committee members complained that there were "insufficient data," "too many undetermined elements in the plan," and "no concrete measures presented," among other things.

As a result, the committee did not approve the plan and in an unusual move pushed back their decision.

My impression from reading a transcript was that all the committee members were sincerely trying to do their part to preserve the trees and minimize the project’s impact on the environment. They clearly understand that the people of Tokyo have concerns about the plan and that there has been a lack of information disclosure and dialogue. I am very grateful that committee members are clearly sensitive to the concerns of the people of Tokyo.

On the other hand, the responses from the developer, Mitsui Fudosan, to the committee’s questions was very weak. In response to deep issues raised they gave very shallow answers. I felt that they were not taking the environmental assessment process seriously, in sharp contrast to the strong sense of responsibility of the committee members. Their answers were full of repeated excuses and frankly were quite annoying to read.

I think the fact that the committee members did not approve the plan at this time was a strong message.

Official request from the Governor of Tokyo to the developer, also unusual

In another unusual move, Governor Koike issued a request to the developer, Mitsui Fudosan, on the evening of the 26th.

According to a report in the Yomiuri Shimbun, she had a meeting with the president of Mitsui Fudosan beforehand as well.

The governor mentioned the details of her request to the developer at a press conference on the 27th. She requested that they make efforts to gain "broad participation” and “sympathy” from the citizens of Tokyo for the planned development.

I agree with Governor Koike's idea that more "sympathy and participation" from citizens are needed amid the growing opposition to the Jingu Gaien redevelopment plan.

However, it is rather late to be asking for that now that the plan is so far along, and the Governor herself approved it.

Further, it is impossible to "sympathize" with the current plan, which has too many problems. Who will sympathize with a plan to cut down a thousand trees to build a shopping mall and eliminate beloved sports facilities? And "participation" will be meaningless if it is confined to superficial matters, like choosing the paint color for the shopping mall.

The whole plan needs to be scrapped and planning sent back to square one, so that a new plan can be created with citizen participation, based on everyone’s needs and priorities discussed in an open forum with all stakeholders.

Petition to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly rejected

As mentioned above, citizens are beginning to voice their concerns about the redevelopment plan, and on the 27th, the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly examined the "Official Petition for the Preservation of the Historical Landscape and Environment of the Jingu Gaien Garden," for which many of you had collected signatures based on a request in a prior update.

We thank the Communist Party, Ishin and Rikken party representatives for supporting the petition. Unfortunately, it was defeated by opposing votes from the LDP, Tomin First, and Komeito parties.  

The petition was very mildly worded, talking about the history of Jingu Gaien and taking care of the environment, so it’s really hard to believe that anyone could oppose it. Very disappointing.

However, the fact that Ishin and Rikken were in support is progress.

Request letter and list of signers to be submitted to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the participating companies

As mentioned above, I believe that it is necessary to withdraw the plan at this stage and go back to square one. This week I will submit written requests and a list of signatories to each of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Meiji Jingu, Itochu, Mitsui Fudosan, and the Japan Sports Promotion Center, and will hold a press conference at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Press Club on Thursday, June 2.

The number of signatories appeals to the press and is a prominent feature of press coverage. So let’s try to increase the number as much as possible before 8 am Thursday morning Japan time (the deadline for me to record them for the submission).

If each of you reading this update finds one more person to sign, the number will jump. So please share on social media (one more time if you have done so previously). Also, as the cover image for this update I have included a QR code that takes you to the petition page. You can pull it up on your phone and show it to people as you are out and about, or print it out and pass it around to people. Every little bit will really help!

Thank you all for your support!

Media appearances this week

Please watch me talk about Jingu Gaien on these shows and post about them on social media!

May 30 Seek Sustainable Youtube (English) 17:00 – watch the recording here. https://youtu.be/neRHCkAyGAU

June 1 News OpEd  (online news program) 6pm - https://www.youtube.com/user/u3wjp

That’s it for now, more soon! Keep promoting the petition please!