Despite Gov. Koike telling the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan at her press conference last week that the ongoing environmental assessment process is being followed carefully step by step, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government gave its approval to the project on Friday. So basically the Tokyo Met. Government is ignoring the assessment committee's continuing deliberations, including those over accusations from UNESCO-affiliated ICOMOS of false information in the environmental assessment report, and the head of the environmental assessment committee saying that a green light cannot yet be given to the project. In other words, Gov. Koike lied to the FCCJ.

After the Tokyo Met. Gov. approval on Friday, the developers rushed to ask Shinjuku-ku to approve cutting down trees. Shinjuku-ku has a say in the process because it has jurisdiction over the landscape protection area.

Based on the submission by the developers, it turns out they plan to cut not the original 1000 expected, but actually 3000. Details here in this article. And that's not covering all the areas. Shinjuku Ward Assembly Member Ayumi Sawada says the total number of trees to be cut down is likely going to be in the tens of thousands. 

So next step is to make enough noise that the head of Shinjuku Ward is not comfortable giving his approval.

Here is how you can submit your opinions: 

• Online page: https://www.faq.city.shinjuku.lg.jp/op/opinioninput.aspx
• Mail: 160-8484　新宿区歌舞伎町1-4-1　総合政策部区政情報課広聴係 (1-4-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Sogo Seisaku Bu, Ku Sei Joho Kotyogakari)
• FAX 03-5272-5500 
• Phone 03-3209-1111

There will be a demo in front of the Shinjuku Ward office (address above) from 12:30 to 1:30 on Wednesday February 22nd. Please stop by to show your support if you are able. My tweet about it in Japanese has gone viral, so we are expecting a large crowd.

Also I have submitted a an official request letter (yobosho) on behalf of the signatories of this petition, asking that the cutting of trees not be approved.

Online reaction to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's approval has been strongly negative, and hashtags calling out Governor Koike and Mitsui Fudosan trended over the weekend.

Outrage online increased further when Nikkan Gendai and SMART FLASH reported on Monday that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is moving forward with a plan to redevelop the aquarium at Kasai Marine Park. The plan involves cutting down 1400 trees and putting up a grove of solar panels instead.  

There is still a chance of stopping the project, and the key is making as much noise as possible. Please continue to raise your voices. 

The question is, will Koike realize that she is risking her political future by ignoring the dissatisfaction with her high-handed approach to the Jingu Gaien issue? Let's be loud enough that she can't ignore us!