July 24, 2015

To Sports and Youth Bureau, MEXT
To Japan Sports Council, Bureau of the New National Stadium Planning and Construction

“Recommendation for the Basic Policy for the Revitalization of the Water, Green, and Historic Environment of the Meiji Jingu Gaien based on the Withdrawal of the New National Stadium Plan”

City and Nature and Environment Subcommittee of the Environmental Studies Committee of Science Council of Japan
Chairperson, Mikiko Ishikawa (Professor of Chuo University, Professor Emeritus of Tokyo University)
1-13-27 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8551
Email: shikawa.27w@g.chuo-u.ac.jp
TEL/FAX: 03-3817-7268 (ex.7268)

The City and Nature and Environment Subcommittee of the Environmental Studies Committee of Science Council of Japan announced the “the Recommendations for Improvement and Harmonization of Meiji Jingu Gaien and the New National Stadium” on April 24, 2051.

“The Recommendations for Improvement and Harmonization of Meiji Jingu Gaien and the New National Stadium”
http://www.scj.go.jp/ja/info/kohyo/pdf/kohyo-23-t211-1-1.pdf

With the announcement by Prime Minister Abe concerning calling off the New National Stadium Plan on July 18, 2015, we would like to ask the government to revitalize the water, green, and historic environment of the Meiji Jingu Gaien, which had been proposed by the Science Council of Japan, as the basic requirement for the review of the Plan. We hereby once again recommend the specific contents of our recommendation.

Recommendation 1: The environment surrounding the New National Stadium should create a “True Forest” rooted in the ground based on the characteristics of the ecosystem of the Meiji Jingu Gaien Forest. The multilevel park on the concrete structure in the Plan would incur tremendous costs for construction and upkeep, and it would be impossible for the trees to grow in the long run. Therefore, the plan should be canceled. Instead, green areas on the ground level for the public as large as or larger than the Meiji Park, which will be lost, should be created.

Recommendation 2: The freshness of the Shibuya River should be recovered. The thermal environment and scenery along the River should also be improved, and healthy river circulation should be recovered to create the corridor of ecosystem.

Recommendation 3: The currently remaining trees should be preserved as many as possible. At least, until the new plan is determined, they should not be logged. The adjacent Kasumigaoka Apartment operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government should be handled in an integrated manner with the Meiji Jingu Gaien to support the New National Stadium for the recovery of ecosystem and water circulation.

Recommendation 4: The current Meiji Jingu Gaien was created by donated trees from the public. In view of this, the new park should also solicit tree donation so that many people can be involved and celebrate the Olympics and Paralympics, and the park will become a place to represent this spirit.

Recommendation 5: The Urban Plan for the Meiji Park and the District Plan for the Meiji Jingu Gaien District, which had been revised based on the past ideas, should also be reviewed along with the withdrawal of the Plan. At the time of review, the existing scenic beauty district and landscaping plan should be respected. If sufficient ground area for the park is not secured, find another place in an urban area, instead of using the multilevel park systems.

Recommendation 6: When Tokyo was chosen as the host city, the Prime Minister made a statement that the Olympics and Paralympics in Japan would show the results of earthquake disaster reconstruction. This statement should be adhered to.

Recommendation 7: A Committee for the Revitalization of the Meiji Jingu Gaien with Water and Green and Establishment of Future Vision should be established. This Committee should set new visions in light of the withdrawal of the previous Plan. The visions should include not only the responses to the 2020 Olympics/Paralympics but also the consideration for the future generations. MEXT, JSC and Tokyo Metropolitan Government should establish the future vision establishment committee and discuss these matters based on the opinions of relevant organizations, athletes, citizens, and scholars, the national government, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, JSC, Shinjuku Ward Office, Shibuya Ward Office and Minato Ward Office.