On Friday, 10/25, Shinjuku Ward granted approval for the developers' request to start cutting down and transplanting trees. According to media reports, the cutting will commence on Monday.
The exact time hasn’t been disclosed, but it’s likely to be in the morning. So we are asking as many people as possible to gather on-site from 10-11 AM for a protest action.
With media coverage expected, please bring banners and placards to make our voices heard.
Meeting place is across the road from the former Second Baseball Stadium site.
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/VTyQBFDdiiKfHuJ87
Gathering on the National Stadium grounds is prohibited, so please stand on the sidewalk (the white area on the map). We’ll avoid obstructing the workers' activities but may adjust locations if needed. Sadly, I (Rochelle Kopp) can’t attend tomorrow as I'm teaching a full day seminar at a client, so please check leader Osawa-san's X account, @Mid_observatory, for updates.
Even if you can’t come from 10-11 AM, feel free to visit the site at other times, like lunchtime or after work. The more witnesses we have there, the better. Please post to social media as well.
It is heartbreaking to think of the needless destruction set for Monday. But don’t lose hope—only some trees are being cut down on Monday, not all of them. We still have a chance to halt future phases. Let’s continue to raise our voices.
For reference, here’s a timeline of recent developments in the tree-cutting controversy starting from October 21:
October 21: Tokyo’s Environmental Impact Assessment Council met, with the developers reporting revisions to the tree removal plan. Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials stated that there was no need to redo the environmental assessment. That same day, after 5 PM, the developers submitted a “tree removal permit application” to Shinjuku Ward.
October 24: Professor Mikiko Ishikawa from the Japan ICOMOS National Committee submitted a formal request to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, urging a review of the environmental assessment process. She requested public viewing of the plans, comments, and listening sessions.
October 25: 12:00 PM: Citizens held a sanding protest outside Shinjuku Ward Office, urging, “Don’t issue the permit!” 3:00 PM: Lawsuit filed against Shinjuku Ward to prevent the permit from being issued, followed by a press conference. (To contribute to the crowdfunding for this and other lawsuits against Shinjuku Ward and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, click here). 5:00 PM: Shinjuku Ward granted approval for the third “tree removal application” from the project team. 6:00 PM: Residents noticed construction vehicles and numerous lights set up near the National Foundation Memorial Archives forest in Jingu Gaien, where many trees will be cut down. It was suspected the team intended to start cutting down the trees overnight. Journalists later clarified that the tree removal would begin on Monday, October 28. Specific details are still unknown.
Looking at this schedule, there seems to be close coordination between the government and the developers.
The timing of the permit issuance at 5 pm on Friday, making it impossible to immediately hand over the official permission papers to the developers because the Ward Office then closed for the day, may have interfered with the original plan to cut down the trees overnight.
Yesterday was the final day of the Lower House election campaign, with voting today. The media is focused on election coverage, leaving little room to cover issues like Jingu Gaien. Could the planned Friday night tree cutting timing have been intentional? Targeting Fridays or major events to avoid attention is a common tactic.