Back in autumn 2021, the Japankuru team reported on the brand new plans to redevelop two of Tokyo’s most central green spaces: Yoyogi Park and Meiji Park (also known as Meiji Jingu Gaien). With the news fresh in the air and full of positivity, the initial reaction for many was optimistic, with new hopes for some of the city’s most beloved natural spaces. But after local Tokyoites were given a chance to more carefully consider and examine the redevelopment plans, responses began to take on a new tenor, and recent reports from the Mainichi Shimbun show that many of Tokyo’s residents are still far from being on board with the major changes now in progress.

With proposals looking to significantly build up the area and transform the charmingly simple park spaces into new leisure and commerce facilities, local voices are calling the organizers’ motivations – and the plan’s necessity- into question, with many frustrated at the loss of some of the few expansive green spaces left in the bustling heart of Tokyo. One of the biggest sticking points for the parks’ redevelopment project revolves around Meiji Jingu Gaien’s iconic avenue of ginkgo trees, which stand tall and green during the warmer months of the year, before transforming into one of Tokyo’s most popular foliage-viewing destinations each autumn, when the leaves turn a golden yellow and rain down on the busy walking paths. Despite the redevelopment project including plans to preserve the trees from the start, the area is set to become significantly restricted due to new construction, and the close proximity to a new baseball stadium has become cause for concern. Developers, including Meiji Shrine and a major real estate company, aim to rebuild and relocate both Jingu Stadium and the Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium while also constructing three new high-rise buildings.

Widespread opposition has come from sources big and small, ranging from the late composer Ryuichi Sakamoto to UNESCO’s own advisory body, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), calling for the plan to be scrapped wholesale. On top of the potential issues expected to affect the famous Meiji Jingu Gaien ginkgo trees (which have already shown a worrisome decline in growth in recent years), concerns have been raised about the environmental impact that will follow the planned removal or relocation of around 1,000 medium and large trees. In response, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government asked the developers to come up with a tree preservation plan in September of last year, and after a delay caused by the Tokyo gubernatorial election, a revised redevelopment plan for the area has now been submitted. However, the changes from the original plan appear to be minimal – the developers claim they’ve reduced the number of trees to be cut down by 124, but much of this reduction is due to counting dead trees or moving trees to other locations. In reality, only 66 more trees will be preserved than initially planned, and for the famous ginkgos, the distance placed between the line of trees and the new stadium has been increased by about 10 meters.

The response has left a bad taste in the mouths of many of the plan’s opponents, who question whether the concerns have been addressed meaningfully or just brushed aside. This is not the first time communication from the project’s developers has been criticized either, especially when examining how they’ve engaged with the public. There is evidence that the process has been rushed, such as when the city ignored the objections expressed by the local chapter of ICOMOS, without giving them an opportunity to present their views. A survey conducted by the Mainichi Shimbun during the Tokyo gubernatorial election found that around 70% of respondents opposed the tree removal involved in the redevelopment plan. With such a large percentage of Tokyo’s locals concerned with the project, the metropolitan government and the developers may need to make more compromises before the redevelopment can continue, if they want to stay in the public’s good graces.

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