Author Robert Whiting (You Gotta Have Wa) and two Japanese legislators – one from the Diet and one from the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly – are having a press conference tomorrow ( October 30th) at the FCCJ from 11 am to noon. Watch it live here.

Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly member Akira Harada will reveal how the Jingu Gaien redevelopment was conceived and driven forward through deep collusion among political, bureaucratic, and corporate circles. He will trace its origins back to 2012 and highlight the involvement of key Liberal Democratic Party figures such as former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and former LDP Policy Chief Koichi Hagiuda. The project, Harada argues, stands as a classic example of the “backroom politics” that have long characterized Japan’s LDP-dominated political system. He will speak sharply about how public interests are being trampled for private gain.

Member of the House of Councillors Yoshiko Kira will address the redevelopment issue from the perspectives of democratic governance, accountability, and environmental protection. She is calling on the Japanese government, particularly the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, to take responsibility for its failure to properly explain the basis for its decisions regarding the project. Kira will also focus on the highly irregular and ad hoc procedures under which the ministry in August approved the disposal of national property related to the construction of the new rugby stadium.

Author and journalist Robert Whiting will provide historical and cultural context on Jingu Gaien and the role of Meiji Jingu Baseball Stadium (opened 1926) in Japan’s baseball legacy. He has been a frequent visitor there since 1962. He will emphasize how the redevelopment plan threatens not only the stadium — beloved for decades by professional and collegiate baseball fans alike — but also the area’s iconic ginkgo trees, open-air vistas, public amenities, and the living environment of nearby residents.

Together, the speakers aim to shed light on the Jingu Gaien issue at this critical juncture, question the culture of concealment and irresponsible power structures, and call for true transparency and accountability in shaping the future of Tokyo’s historic green heart.

Here is a link to the FCCJ notice: https://www.fccj.or.jp/event/press-conference-opponents-ask-tokyo-governor-koike-halt-gaien-redevelopment