Many people have asked what is going on with the trees in Jingu Gaien. The white fences are still up around Jingu No. 2 stadium and the National Foundation Memorial Archives Forest. The poor trees look like prisoners.

In February of this year, a permit was granted to cut down approximately 3,000 trees (ranging from medium and tall trees to shorter trees and shrubs) in connection with the demolition of the Jingu No. 2 stadium. It's hard to tell due to the fence, but it appears that the shorter trees and shrubs have already been removed, but none of the medium to larger ones have been cut down yet. We think that public pressure has made it difficult for them to start cutting larger trees.

On August 25, the developers submitted a second application to Shinjuku Ward for permission to cut down more trees. The Shinjuku Ward Office accepted the application and is scheduled to grant the permit on or around September 8.

This additional application is to cut down 24 of the 41 medium-high trees at Jingu No. 2 stadium that originally scheduled to be transplanted. If this additional application is approved, the total number of medium height trees to be cut down at Jingu No. 2 stadium will be 54 (30 trees approved in the first application + 24 trees added for the second). In addition, an application to cut down one large tree at the softball fields to secure a pathway for transplanting work has also been submitted, for a total of 55 medium-high trees to be cut down.

We think that they may be planning to cut down all 55 trees together, as soon as September.

Let's make our voices heard to Shinjuku Ward, and ask them to not allow further cutting down of trees in Jingu Gaien!

We are asking everyone to please send a message to Shinjuku Ward. Sending a message in English is OK! There are various ways to contact them:

*Use the Shinjuku Ward Opinion and Inquiry Form: https://www.faq.city.shinjuku.lg.jp/op/opinioninput.aspx

*Send a postcard or letter by mail or fax: Address: Public Hearing Section, Ward Administration Information Division, Policy Planning Department, Shinjuku Ward Office, 1-4-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8484　Fax: 03-5272-5500

*Make a phone call to the section in charge of tree felling permit applications: Building Guidance Division, City Planning Department, Shinjuku Ward Office, Shinjuku Ward Office Representative: 03-3209-1111

Related - call for contributions for lawsuit against Shinjuku Ward: On July 25, five people, including nearby residents and a university professor, filed a lawsuit in the Tokyo District Court against Shinjuku Ward, seeking revocation of the first approval of cutting down trees in Jingu Gaien. The plaintiff group is raising funds for this lawsuit. Let’s support them!

*Contributions can be sent to the following account

Japan Postal Bank, Branch 008, Account No. 7154166 Yoshinaga Mizuyoshi

For transfers from other Japan Post Bank accounts, please use 10030-2   71541661.