Our Ref.: TP/GJ/75

Paris, 7 September 2023
For the attention of:
The Honorable Fumio Kishida
Prime Minister of JapanThe Honorable Tetsuo Saito
Minister of Land, Infrastructure andTransport
The Honorable Akihiro Nishimura
Minister of Environment
The Honorable Keiko Nagaoka
Minister of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology
Mr Shun’ichi Tokura
Commissioner for Cultural Affairs
Ms Yuriko Koike,
Governor of Tokyo Metropolitan
Government
Mr Shigeki Miyake,
Chairman of the Tokyo Metropolitan
Assembly
Ms Kayoko Hama
Chairman of Tokyo Metropolitan Boardof Education
Mr Masaaki Takei
Mayor of Minato WardMr Takaya Suzuki
Chairman of the Minato Ward Council
Mr Ken-ichi Yoshizumi
Mayor of Shinjyuku Ward
Mr Shin-ichi Hiyama
Chairman of the Shinjyuku WardCouncil
Mr Ken Hasebe
Mayor of Shibuya Ward
Mr Takashi Maruyama
Chairman of the Shibuya Ward Council
Mr Takashi Ueda
President and Chief Executive Officerof Mitsui Fudosan
Mr Michinari Kujyo
Chief priest of Meiji Jingu Shrine
Mr Keita Ishii
President of ITOCHU corporation
Mr Satoshi Ashidate
President of Japan Sports Council

Subject: Heritage Alert –Immediate threat to the urban forest of Jingu Gaien, Tokyo, Japan
3.4 ha parkland and approximately 3,000 heritage trees lost to redevelopment
Dear Madam, Sir, Your Excellency,ICOMOS, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, is the preeminent organization representing
professionals involved in conserving cultural heritage worldwide. With a membership of over 10,500
members from 130 countries, ICOMOS advocates for the preservation and protection of cultural heritage
places and is an advisory body to the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention.

ICOMOS - 11 rue du Séminaire de Conflans - 94220 Charenton-le-Pont - France+ 33 (0) 1 41 94 17 59 - secretariat@icomos.org - www.icomos.org

Tokyo is one of the largest cities in the world, with a population of 14 million people. It has always taken
great efforts in the preservation of its cultural heritage. At its centre, the royal forest (formerly Edo castle,present-day Imperial Palace), adorned by countless gardens and parks, has been the pride of the city
since the 17th century. Particularly important to the heritage of this area of the Imperial Palace, through theinner and outer moats, are the Akasaka Palace, Jingu Gaien, Jingu Naien, and Shinjuku Gyoen, whichconstitute the core of an historic 20th century Garden City. During the modernization of the 1920’s, theparkway system was introduced, connecting the parks with parkways as the fundamental urban plan ofTokyo.
Jingu Gaien is located in the core of this park system. It was created as a counterpart to Jingu Naien, andhas a unique structure unparalleled in the history of parks around the world. Jingu Naien was intended to
be an "eternal forest". In contrast, Jingu Gaien was designed to create a “forest for the people”. The parkforms the core of the Garden City Park System in Tokyo and is an outstanding example of a citizen-ownedpark, unparalleled in the history of urban parks worldwide.
However, now ICOMOS fears that Jingu Gaien is currently facing the immediate threat of destruction ofapproximately 3,000 trees and loss of open park space due to urban redevelopment.
ICOMOS has received many communications and published articles voicing protest against thisredevelopment. These include a letter from ICOMOS Japan, our National Committee in your country, andletters from Japan’s National Parliament, the Japan Branch of the International Association for Impact
Assessment, as well as letters from world renowned musicians and novelists. There have been more than
300 published articles in newspapers and other media, along with a petition containing more than 218,000signatures.
In light of the above, ICOMOS is issuing a worldwide Heritage Alert, our most significant expression ofconcern, to amplify the worldwide awareness of the imminent and irreversible threats to Jingu Gaien
caused from ongoing urban redevelopment.
ICOMOS Japan was made aware of the critical issues in this redevelopment plan in March 2022, upon theintroduction of the Park-Urban Development program and the District Plan, which identified theestablishment of the re-development district. The plan eliminated a 3.4 ha area of the Meiji city park now
designated to build mixed-use skyscrapers. The plan also changed the regulation of the Scenic District
from a height limitation of 15m, to allow the construction of three high-rise buildings with heights of 190m,185m, and 80m. The plan also allows for the replacement and relocation of the rugby and baseballstadiums. Overall, more than 3,000 trees will be destroyed, with more than 500 of those estimated to beover 100 years of age, and an additional 500 estimated to be over 50 years of age. ICOMOS regards thisas an irreversible destruction of cultural heritage, and an unacceptable loss of open space and mature
heritage trees at a time when the world response to climate change recognizes the critical importance of
maintaining urban open spaces and all parts of the urban forest.
In addition to the direct loss of open space and the destruction of mature heritage trees, the construction of
Jingu Stadium will critically affect the health of the allee of Gingko trees along the southeast border of thesite. By inserting a 40-meter-deep piling for the stadium construction, only 6 meters from the trunks of theGingko trees, the construction will affect the water levels in the soil, and further stress the Gingkos. Inaddition, the construction of the Stadium will affect access to sunlight for the Gingko trees, which are thesymbol of Jingu Gaien. This is contrary to the commitment expressed by the project proponent and Tokyo
Metropolitan Government to "preserve the Ginkgo trees in perpetuity."
ICOMOS strongly warns against the construction of skyscrapers in a world-renowned park, without
consultation with citizens and stakeholders.
ICOMOS calls on Mitsui Fudosan Co.Ltd., Meiji Jingu Shrine, ITOCHU Co.Ltd., and the Japan Sports
Council (the entities responsible for the development), to immediately halt the urban redevelopment projectand preserve Jingu Gaien for future generations.
ICOMOS requests that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG), which approved the urban
redevelopment project, review the city planning decision. The re-development does not conform to longestablished height restrictions under the City Planning Law.
ICOMOS further requests that the Environmental Assessment, which has been criticized as having
numerous errors and unscientific methodologies, fulfil its social responsibilities under the TMG
Environmental Assessment Ordinance, and a review be conducted.
ICOMOS is concerned that these legal procedures were carried out with little or no information provided tothe public. We request that the principles of democracy be respected, and the information about the futureof Jingu Gaien be widely disseminated to the public. A forum should be created where diverse stakeholders can contribute to discussion on the future of the park.

ICOMOS also requests the concerned national ministries, agencies and local governments, and theirrelevant departments, to make the utmost effort to ensure the preservation of this cultural heritage, andoffers the full scope of professional expertise of ICOMOS Japan and our International Scientific Committee
on Cultural Landscapes, as well as other expert members, to assist in ensuring a sustainable future forJingu Gaien.
Yours sincerely,

Yasuyoshi Okada
President of ICOMOS Japan

Teresa Patricio
President of ICOMOS

Elizabeth Brabec
President of ISCCL,ICOMOS – IFLAInternational ScientificCommittee on CulturalLandscapesAttachments:
Heritage Alert Background Information
Press Release
Letter sent to:
The Honorable Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan
Cabinet Public Relations Office, Cabinet Secretariat,
1-6-1 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8968, JapanThe Honorable Tetsuo Saito, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
Cabinet Public Relations Office, Cabinet Secretariat,
1-6-1 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8968, JapanThe Honorable Akihiro Nishimura, Minister of Environment
Cabinet Public Relations Office, Cabinet Secretariat,
1-6-1 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8968, JapanThe Honorable Keiko Nagaoka, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science andTechnology
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology,
3-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8959, JapanMr Shun’ichi Tokura, Commissioner for Cultural Affairs
Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan,
85-4 Shimochojamachido-ri Shinmachi Nishiiruyabunouchicho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto-city, Kyoto 602-8959, Japan
Ms Yuriko Koike, Governor of Tokyo Metropolitan Government
2-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-8001, JapanMr Shigeki Miyake, Chairman of the Tokyo Metropolitan AssemblyPublic Relations Division, Administration Department, Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly,
2-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-8001, Japan
Ms Kayoko Hama, Chairman of Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Educational,
Tokyo Metropolitan Government,
2-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-8001, JapanMr Masaaki Takei, Mayor of Minato Ward
1-5-25, Shiba-Koen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8511, JapanMr Takaya Suzuki, Chairman of Minato Ward Assembly
1-5-25, Shiba-Koen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8511, JapanMr Ken-ichi Yoshizumi, Mayor of Shinjuku Ward
1-4-1, Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8484, JapanMr Shin-ichi Hiyama, Chairman of Shinjuku Ward Assembly
1-4-1, Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8484, JapanMr Ken Hasebe, Mayor of Shibuya Ward
1-1, Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8010, JapanMr Takashi Maruyama, Chairman of Shibuya Ward Assembly
1-1, Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8010, JapanMr Takashi Ueda, Presidnt and Chief Executive Officer of Mitsui Fudosan Co.Ltd.
2-1-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Cyuo-Ku, Tokyo 103-0022, JapanMr Michinari Kujyo, Chief priest of Meiji Jingu Shrine
1-1 Kamizono-cho, Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0052, JapanMr Keita Ishii, President of ITOCYU corporation
2-5-1 Kita- aoyama Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8077, JapanMr Satoshi Ashidate, President of Japan Sports Council
4-1 Kasumigaoka-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0013, Japan