PRESS CONFERENCE The Jingu Gaien redevelopment controversy Citizens Ask Governor Koike to Go Back to the Drawing Board Rochelle Kopp, Organizer of the online petition: ‘Protect Jingu Gaien's trees! Rethink the development plan!’ Naoko Nishikawa, Organizer of Jingu Gaien wo Mamoru Yushi Net & Editor-in-Chief, Kenchiku Journal 13:00-14:00 Monday, August 1, 2022 (The speech and Q & A will be English and in Japanese with English interpretation) The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has given the go-ahead for a major redevelopment of Jingu Gaien, the cluster of sports facilities and green space adjacent to the National Stadium in Sendagaya that includes the iconic avenue lined with four rows of large ginkgo trees. The project has recently become a focus of attention in Tokyo, with people from across the political spectrum speaking out with concerns about the project. This has created a lot of pressure for Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, who is being asked how a project that will chop down so many trees can be squared with her emphasis on environmental matters. Jingu Gaien, the Outer Garden of Meiji Jingu Shrine, was designated as Japan's first Landscape Conservation area in 1926. Many of the trees in the park were contributed from around the country and the world, and the park was built with volunteer labor and donations. The site is now home to a variety of public sports facilities and two historic stadiums. The redevelopment plan is made possible by a loosening of height restrictions in the area that was implemented in conjunction with the Olympics. The project entails the following: Switching the locations of and rebuilding Jingu Stadium and Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground; rebuilding the Itochu headquarters building, nearly doubling its height to 190 meters; adding two additional buildings that will contain offices, hotels, and commercial facilities; relocating the private tennis club to the main plaza area; demolishing the Royal Park Café, Hihachi and Shake Shack restaurants; eliminating the second baseball stadium, golf driving range, batting dome, indoor playing field, softball fields, public tennis courts and futsal courts; and the cutting down of nearly 1,000 trees. Two activists, Naoko Nishikawa and Rochelle Kopp, will tell the FCCJ about the various concerns and issues related to the redevelopment project.

1. What’s happening at Jingu Gaien and why?
Development plans threaten Tokyo’s green oasis and
historic sports structures

2. Naoko Nishikawa Organizer, Jingu Gaien
wo Mamoru Yushi Net
Editor-in-Chief, Kenchiku Journal
西川直子
神宮外苑を守る有志ネット 事務局
建築ジャーナル 編集⾧
Rochelle Kopp
Online Petition Organizer
Managing Principal, Japan Intercultural
Consulting
ロッシェル・カップ
オンライン署名を立ち上げた人

3. Designated as Japan’s first Landscape Conservation Area in
1926, Jingu Gaien has provided Tokyoites with a green urban
oasis for nearly 100 years.
The gingko avenue was named #3 tree tunnel in the world

4. Jingu Gaien contains a baseball stadium, a rugby stadium,
various sports facilities for the public, several popular cafes,
and lots of trees.
It’s a unique historical environment, and a place that holds
special memories for many Tokyoites.

5. As a large space in the center of the city Jingu Gaien became
a redevelopment target.
Some say that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were an excuse to
redevelop Jingu Gaien; building height restrictions were removed.

6. Four organizations involved in the project:
Meiji Jingu, Mitsui Fudosan, Itochu, Japan Sport Council

7. Celebration of awarding the 2020 Olympics to Tokyo, 2011
Politicians behind the plan – Shintaro Ishihara and
Yoshiro Mori. Connection to the 2020 Olympics.

8. The development plan will completely reshape
the park, taking away:
• Nearly 1000 trees, many of them 100 years old
• Historic baseball and rugby stadiums
• Golf driving range, second baseball stadium, futsal
court, batting dome, six softball fields, and four cafes

9. The nearly 1,000 trees that are
slated to be cut down include 100-
year-old trees.
The government says that they
will preserve the trees, including
by transplanting them. However,
successfully transplanting old
trees is practically impossible.

11. Built in 1926, historic Jingu Stadium is one of three remaining stadiums
where Babe Ruth played. It should be named a landmark.
In a recent poll, Japanese fans named it as their 2nd favorite in the country.

12. Japan’s Koshien and America’s Fenway Park and Wrigley Field are similar in age to Jingu
Stadium. They have been renovated successfully. Same could be done with Jingu.

13. Jingu Stadium is architecturally well-preserved. It should be maintained as a
landmark building rather than be torn down and rebuilt.

14. The
Chichibunomiya
Rugby stadium is
also historic and is
viewed as “sacred
ground” by
Japanese rugby
fans.
Fans appreciate
being close to the
action and playing
in any weather
condition is
considered to be a
tradition in the
sport.

15. Jingu Stadium, Chichibunomiya Rugy Stadium, Gingko Avenue and other
surrounding trees, as seen from the 12th floor of the Seinenkan Building. The
two stadiums are a unified entity and provide a clear view of the sky. There is
no need to replace them, they should be preserved and renovated.

16. Sports facilities like the softball fields are beloved by the public, and rare
in central Tokyo. The only sports facility for use by the public that will
remain under the plan is an expensive private tennis club.

17. The cafes next to
the gingko avenue
are a popular spot,
both for casual
meals and events
such as wedding
receptions.

18. Making
room for
high rise
commercial
buildings

19. The
planned
commercial
facilities
look like a
shopping
mall!

20. New baseball stadium will be built right up against
the gingko avenue – likely damaging the trees’ roots

21. The developers tried
to keep the project
as hush-hush as
possible.
The only
announcement was
this tiny item in a
ward bulletin, about
one public meeting.
The developers
knew about the
scale of the planned
tree destruction
early on but didn’t
announce it.

22. Chuo University Professor Mikiko Ishikawa

23. The redevelopment project was approved by the Tokyo
Planning Commission in early February.
Many Tokyoites found out about the project for the first time.

24. Governor Koike approved the plan in early March.
Maybe she thought not many people would find out or care about it?

25. On 5/20, an official opinion letter was submitted to the Tokyo
Metropolitan Assembly, asking that the historical landscape and
environment of Jingu Gaien be preserved. 4672 signatures in
support were gathered.

26. Environmental Assessment Hearing, April 15th, 2022
In Japan, environmental assessment happens after
the project is approved, not before.
The Committee has left the assessment pending,
awaiting further information from the developers
about the environmental impact.

27. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, May 27, 2022 press conference
Koike’s unusual request letter to the developers:
“Sympathy and participation from the public are key”

28. In late June, a survey conducted by the Tokyo
Shimbun showed 69.5% of Tokyo voters polled were
against the Jingu Gaien redevelopment plan.