Robert Whiting at an online press conference
Regarding the Jingu Stadium and Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, which will be redeveloped as part of the redevelopment of the Meiji Jingu Gaien, baseball and rugby players have started an online petition on “Change.org” to oppose the demolition. Both of them are requested to repair and continue to use. On the 25th, writer Robert Whiting, who is familiar with Japanese and American baseball culture, and Marty Keenert, who served as the first GM of professional baseball Rakuten, held a press conference.
Is it necessary to cut down a 100-year-old tree and build it?
The Jingu Stadium was completed in 1926 and is a facility that remains from the beginning of Gaien. In addition to being a mecca for college baseball since before the war, Yakult, a professional baseball team, is based here. Writer Haruki Murakami revealed in his book that in 1978, when he was running a jazz café, he was watching a game in the outfield, and that he had the idea to write a novel.
At the press conference, Mr. Whiting said, “Based on the fact that a large amount of trees will be cut down and high-rise office buildings will be built,” the stadium, which was surrounded by greenery, will be surrounded by buildings.It is not for baseball fans but for business fans. development,” he pointed out. Keenert argued that “Jingu Stadium is also a monument,” citing the case of a plan to rebuild Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, which is the oldest baseball stadium in the US Major League Baseball, and was withdrawn due to strong public opposition.
Former Japanese rugby team member Tsuyoshi Hirao, professor at Kobe Shinwa Women’s University, has called on Prince Chichibu. At an online symposium on the 12th, Mr. Hirao said, “Is it really necessary to cut down a 100-year-old tree to build it?”
