Tomorrow (2/8) from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., a press conference about the Jingu Gaien redevelopment controversy will be held at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo. The press conference will also be streamed live at this link. The presentation and Q & A will be in Japanese with English interpretation.

The following is the FCCJ's announcement of the press conference:

The iconic Jingu Gaien Ginko Avenue is being threatened by a major development project. The redevelopment plan— pushed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Mitsui Fudosan and other entities—calls for cutting down as many as 1,000 trees, including historic specimens over a hundred years old. In their place, developers hope to build three new skyscrapers. Existing classic baseball and rugby stadiums would be demolished and replaced.

Citizens and experts alike are voicing concerns about a project they say will destroy the area's historic landscape. Over 110,000 people have signed a petition calling for a review of the plan; Governor Yuriko Koike has not responded.

In a related effort, long-time FCCJ member Robert Whiting launched a petition opposing the demolition and rebuilding of the historic Jingu Baseball Stadium, Japan's oldest baseball field. Rugby players and supporters are trying to preserve Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium. Both groups argue rebuilding will mean the loss of important and historic sports facilities. Construction may start at any time, pending the final go by Governor Koike.

Our guests will discuss why the project should be stopped and what will happen to the historic Jingu Gaien area if the redevelopment goes ahead as planned.

Speakers:

Mikiko Ishikawa, Director, Japan National Commission for the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)
Junichiro Ohkata, Specially Appointed Professor at Meiji University and Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo. 
Tomoko Abe, Member of the House of Representatives, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan

Demonstration at Jingu Gaien this Sunday (2/12)

On Sunday at 1 pm, please join us at Jingu Gaien as we protest the developer's beginning of construction preparations despite the Environmental Assessment Committee having not yet completed its deliberations and numerous problems in the environmental assessment report submitted by the developers.

We will meet at the north side of the Kenkoku Kinen Bunko no Mori (forest surrounding the National Foundation Memorial Archives) (map here), which is currently wrapped in green fence by the developers. 

Leading environmental assessment expert Sachihiko Harashina will address the group, discussing why the developers' beginning construction preparations at this time is problematic.

Media will be attending this event so it's important to have a good turnout. Please join us!