Dispute Centered around Redevelopment of Historic Tokyo Park, Stadiums
2023-05-23
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1Tokyo's governor is a major supporter of a building project that is raising concerns among sports fans, history fans and environmentalists.
2Critics say the redevelopment plan for a public park, that also has sports stadiums, represents a conflict of interest between the parties pushing for it.
3Those involved include a major Tokyo builder, a religious organization and Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike.
4The dispute is the second involving Koike who also pushed big development projects for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
5The Games were delayed until 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
6This time, the project involves a famous baseball stadium and a nearby area for another sport, rugby, in a historic public park known as Jingu Gaien.
7The stadiums are to be torn down and new ones put up.
8The project also will make way for two 200-meter-tall buildings and an area for stores.
9Opponents say the project shows the ties among the main actors: Koike, the developer Mitsui Fudosan, and Meiji Jingu.
10Meiji Jingu is a religious organization that owns much of the land to be redeveloped.
11Like other Tokyo governors, Koike is a member of the Meiji Jingu group of trustees.
12Hiromichi Iwasa is the former leader of Mitsui Fudosan.
13He joined Meiji Jingu's group of directors after he took over the company in 2011.
14He remains a director of Mitsui Fudosan.
15Koichi Nakano is a political scientist at Tokyo's Sophia University.
16He told The Associated Press (AP) that conflict of interest between businesses and policymakers rarely raises questions in Japan.
17The issue has received little attention in Japan's major newspapers.
18AP sent an email to Koike's office for comment but received no answer.
19Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori is the 85-year-old former head of the Japan Rugby Football Union.
20He also was president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing group until he was forced to resign.
21Nakano and others said Mori was important to the deal.
22Nakano said the redevelopment of the park is a public issue.
23He added, "At the same time, they (politicians) can claim that it is a private decision of a religious organization and the developers."
24He said because Jingu Gaien is also a public park with a sports center, politicians get involved with decisions.
25"Which results in the cozy, probably collusive relationships among the insiders (who) are unaccountable to the public," Nakano added.
26The long-term project will take more than 10 years to complete, but minor building has already begun.
27Local people say the project is quietly being pushed through.
28Activists have begun legal action to stop it.
29The central questions being explored are who controls public space, and does the public have a say?
30Another question is: Have other plans been considered? Other issues include support for protecting the two existing stadiums and opposition to building close to a 66-hectare park area designed 100 years ago to honor the Meiji Emperor.
31Opponents of the development project include sports fans, those who want to protect historical places, and environmentalists.
32They say Koike has the power to stop the project.
33Former Japanese national team rugby player Tsuyoshi Hirao said those who love rugby do not want to destroy the environment in the name of sports.
34Hirao heads one of several online petitions opposing the redevelopment.
35More than 250,000 people have signed it.
36Hirao and others say the rugby and baseball stadiums could be renovated.
37And some people question the need for more tall buildings in Tokyo, especially since the pandemic has caused changes to work methods.
38The city has more than 50 buildings that are taller than 187 meters.
39Some scientists say the project could have damaging effects.
40They worry about the effects of removing green areas in a dense, hot city like Tokyo.
41Koike also pushed for development over objections from environmentalists and others before the 2020 Olympics.
42About 1,500 trees were cut down to build the $1.4 billion National Stadium for the Tokyo Olympics.
43Almost two years after the Games ended, the stadium is largely unused.
44It does not have a major occupier and could cost taxpayers a reported $15 million to keep up every year.
45People involved in the development for the Tokyo Games have faced accusations of illegal payments and insider deals.
46I'm Jill Robbins.
1Tokyo's governor is a major supporter of a building project that is raising concerns among sports fans, history fans and environmentalists. 2Critics say the redevelopment plan for a public park, that also has sports stadiums, represents a conflict of interest between the parties pushing for it. Those involved include a major Tokyo builder, a religious organization and Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike. 3The dispute is the second involving Koike who also pushed big development projects for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Games were delayed until 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 4This time, the project involves a famous baseball stadium and a nearby area for another sport, rugby, in a historic public park known as Jingu Gaien. The stadiums are to be torn down and new ones put up. The project also will make way for two 200-meter-tall buildings and an area for stores. 5Conflict of interest 6Opponents say the project shows the ties among the main actors: Koike, the developer Mitsui Fudosan, and Meiji Jingu. Meiji Jingu is a religious organization that owns much of the land to be redeveloped. 7Like other Tokyo governors, Koike is a member of the Meiji Jingu group of trustees. Hiromichi Iwasa is the former leader of Mitsui Fudosan. He joined Meiji Jingu's group of directors after he took over the company in 2011. He remains a director of Mitsui Fudosan. 8Koichi Nakano is a political scientist at Tokyo's Sophia University. He told The Associated Press (AP) that conflict of interest between businesses and policymakers rarely raises questions in Japan. 9The issue has received little attention in Japan's major newspapers. AP sent an email to Koike's office for comment but received no answer. 10Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori is the 85-year-old former head of the Japan Rugby Football Union. He also was president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing group until he was forced to resign. Nakano and others said Mori was important to the deal. 11Nakano said the redevelopment of the park is a public issue. He added, "At the same time, they (politicians) can claim that it is a private decision of a religious organization and the developers." 12He said because Jingu Gaien is also a public park with a sports center, politicians get involved with decisions. "Which results in the cozy, probably collusive relationships among the insiders (who) are unaccountable to the public," Nakano added. 13Opposition to the project 14The long-term project will take more than 10 years to complete, but minor building has already begun. Local people say the project is quietly being pushed through. Activists have begun legal action to stop it. 15The central questions being explored are who controls public space, and does the public have a say? Another question is: Have other plans been considered? Other issues include support for protecting the two existing stadiums and opposition to building close to a 66-hectare park area designed 100 years ago to honor the Meiji Emperor. 16Opponents of the development project include sports fans, those who want to protect historical places, and environmentalists. They say Koike has the power to stop the project. 17Former Japanese national team rugby player Tsuyoshi Hirao said those who love rugby do not want to destroy the environment in the name of sports. 18Hirao heads one of several online petitions opposing the redevelopment. More than 250,000 people have signed it. 19Hirao and others say the rugby and baseball stadiums could be renovated. And some people question the need for more tall buildings in Tokyo, especially since the pandemic has caused changes to work methods. The city has more than 50 buildings that are taller than 187 meters. 20Some scientists say the project could have damaging effects. They worry about the effects of removing green areas in a dense, hot city like Tokyo. 21Koike also pushed for development over objections from environmentalists and others before the 2020 Olympics. About 1,500 trees were cut down to build the $1.4 billion National Stadium for the Tokyo Olympics. 22Almost two years after the Games ended, the stadium is largely unused. It does not have a major occupier and could cost taxpayers a reported $15 million to keep up every year. People involved in the development for the Tokyo Games have faced accusations of illegal payments and insider deals. 23I'm Jill Robbins. 24Stephen Wade reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. 25___________________________________________________________________ 26Words in This Story 27stadium - n. a very large usually roofless building that has a large open area surrounded by many rows of seats and that is used for sports events or concerts 28park -n. a public space that usually has trees and grass and activities for people to do in their free time 29trustee -n. a person or member of a small group which has the responsibility of managing the property or money of others 30insider - n. a person who belongs to a group or organization and has special knowledge about it 31cozy - adj. suggesting or showing a closeness between two people, groups, or businesses 32collude - v. to work with others secretly especially in order to do something illegal or dishonest 33petition - n. a written document that people sign to show that they want a person or organization to do or change something 34renovate - v. to make changes and repairs to (an old house, building, or room) so that it is back in good condition 35__________________________________________________________________ 36What do you think of this story? 37We want to hear from you. 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