Monday: Jingu Gaien talk at Temple U. Tokyo
Sponsored by the TUJ Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies, the University of Chicago Alumni Club of Japan and the Yale Club of Japan
The Jingu Gaien redevelopment controversy: A talk with Rochelle Kopp
28 November 2022 (19:00-20:30)
In-person at: Temple University Japan (Room 301)
1-14-29 Taishido, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 東京都世田谷区太子堂1-14-29
If you are not familiar with TUJ, please go to their website (Google Maps doesn't indicate the exact location) https://www.tuj.ac.jp/maps/tokyo
If possible, please RSVP by replying to this email or contacting icas@tuj.temple.edu
Overview
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has given the go-ahead for a major redevelopment of Jingu Gaien, the cluster of sports facilities and green space adjacent to the National Stadium in Sendagaya. The project has recently become a focus of attention in Tokyo, with many people from across the political spectrum speaking out with concerns about the project.
The redevelopment plan is made possible by a loosening of height restrictions in the area that was implemented in conjunction with the Olympics, and former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori was involved in conceptualization of the plan. The redevelopment will eliminate nearly a thousand trees, two historic stadiums and several public sports facilities, and put in three high rise office buildings.
In this presentation activist Rochelle Kopp will describe the various concerns and issues related to the Jingu Gaien redevelopment project and how she and some other activists and academics are speaking out against the plan and urging that Governor Koike withdraw it and start over with input from the public and experts.
Speaker Profile
Rochelle is a Japanese business culture expert and cross-cultural communications specialist, and the author of numerous books in both English and Japanese. She is the Managing Principal of Japan Intercultural Consulting. Rochelle holds a B.A. in History from Yale University and an M.B.A. in Finance and Business Policy from the Chicago Booth School of Business.
Rochelle has devoted her career to understanding Japanese organizations, how they make decisions and how to influence them. She is working as an activist to stop this controversial development project being pushed forward by what she deems bureaucratic inertia and behind-the-scenes power brokering is the latest step in this journey.
Moderator: Robert Dujarric, Temple University Japan
Tomorrow: outreach to overseas tourists
A new way to help Jingu Gaien! We are gathering comments from some of the many tourists who are currently visiting the gingko avenue in Jingu Gaien. English, Korean and Chinese speakers especially needed.
We’ve designed a form for this purpose. DM Rochelle on Twitter at @JapanIntercult if you want to get a copy to use and go and gather comments on your own. Or, if you are free at 11 am tomorrow (November 17th), meet up with Marian Hara at the right hand side (closer to Aoyama Dori) of the entrance to the gingko avenue. DM Rochelle for Marian's keitai if you plan to attend and want to have it just in case.