The felling of trees in the Meiji Jingû Gaien district began despite opposition

tree felling area to protest (October 28).”/>
People gathered at the tree felling area to protest (October 28).

On Monday, October 28, real estate developer <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/02/gather-basketball-lovers-divercity-tokyo-plaza-x-urban-dock-lalaport-toyosu-try-fun-basketball-supported-by-koto-phoenix-february-22-2022/" title="Gather basketball lovers! DiverCity Tokyo Plaza x Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu "TRY! FUN! Basketball Supported by KOTO PHOENIX" (February 22, 2022)”>Mitsui Fudôsan began felling trees in the Meiji Jingû Gaien district of Tokyo, with the aim of redeveloping the area. This will involve rebuilding the Jingû baseball stadium and the Chichibu no Miya rugby stadium, creating new parks and skyscrapers.

Last month, the company submitted a revised plan for the project to the Tokyo metropolitan government, including reducing the number of trees to be cut following strong opposition from residents concerned about the environmental consequences. The municipality validated this plan on October 21, allowing Mitsui to announce that it would soon begin operations.

More precisely, 619 trees will be cut down, instead of 743. In addition, the distance between one of the rows of ginkgoes and the location of the new baseball stadium will be widened in order to improve the growing environment for these trees. , which symbolize the neighborhood.

The Japanese branch of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos), a UNESCO advisory body, had criticized the redevelopment project for the Meiji Jingû Gaien area due to insufficient scientific research. She had called for a review of the plan.

A Japanese zelkova is about to be slaughtered (October 28).

(See also our April 2023 article: Controversy over the redevelopment of the Meiji Jingû Gaien: will we touch the “sacred ground” of sport in Japan?)

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]