May 29, 2024
Details on UN Working Group Report
Tokyo, Japan, May 29, 2024 – A United Nations Working Group on the issue of human rights andtransnational corporations and other business enterprises released its report on May 27, 2024 in which itstated that, “the Working Group expresses serious apprehension in particular over reports of inadequate
public consultation in environmental impact assessment processes, especially for large-scale development
schemes. One case raised by stakeholders is the Jingu Gaien District Urban Redevelopment Project, which
could result in adverse human rights impacts.” On the following day (May 28, 2024), the government ofJapan released its comments on the report, and urged the deletion of the associated paragraph in its entirety.
In carrying out the Jingu Gaien District Urban Redevelopment Project (the “Project”), the developers havebeen properly following procedures in accordance with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s
Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance, and have furthermore participated in a total of 12 meetingsof the Environmental Impact Assessment Council and similar forums, conducting briefings and Q&A
sessions in public, including face-to-face and online formats, which exceeds the usual number of suchmeetings and includes meetings held subsequent to submission of the Environmental Impact Assessment
Report. In addition, the developers have held a total of nine briefing sessions as required for urban planning
procedures stipulated under ordinances and other rules, along with discretionary briefing sessions. The
developers have also held individual briefings for local community associations, schools and other such
entities upon request.
Since July 2023, a question submission page on the project website has been available to everyone with nolimitations on the subject matter. A total of 410 question submissions have been received as of May 29, 2024.
The project developers have furnished replies to the questions and posted them to the project website.
As of the present, as developers, we have responded to various media, provided information on the project
website, responded to questions and disclosed information, and held information sessions for local
residents to properly convey the project plan and have focused on ensuring it is understood. At the sametime, the methods for providing information have been various, and we understand that misunderstandings
may have arisen as a result of inadequate communication of details. It is important that such
communication be ongoing and we will continue to work to actively provide information in seeking toensure that people gain a better understanding of the Project.
In response to the Heritage Alert issued by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)
on September 7, 2023, and referred to in the United Nations Working Group’s report, the developers publicly
disclosed their opinion on the project website on September 29, 2023, as follows:
Developers’ Position on the Heritage Alert
https://www.jingugaienmachidukuri.jp/pdf/en-jingugaienmachidukuri_news_2023092901.pdf* May 30, 2024 postscript: We have added in red that the developers’ opinion in response to the Heritage
Alert has already been disclosed on the project website.

May 29, 2024
Reference(1) Briefings held thus far at the Council and other such forums regarding the environmental impact
assessment process
Date

EventFormat

August 2021

1st Environmental Impact Assessment Council regarding the draftof the Environmental Impact Assessment Report: Attendance,Q&AOnline(open to the public)

February 2022

2nd Environmental Impact Assessment Council regarding the draftof the Environmental Impact Assessment Report: Attendance,
Q&A

Online(open to the public)

March 2022

April 2022

May 2022

May 2022

3rd Environmental Impact Assessment Council regarding the draftof the Environmental Impact Assessment Report: Attendance,
Q&A
4th Environmental Impact Assessment Council regarding the draftof the Environmental Impact Assessment Report: Attendance,
Q&A
5th Environmental Impact Assessment Council regarding the draftof the Environmental Impact Assessment Report: Attendance,
Q&A
6th Environmental Impact Assessment Council regarding the draftof the Environmental Impact Assessment Report: Attendance,
Q&AOnline(open to the public)
Online(open to the public)
Online(open to the public)
Online(open to the public)

August 2022

7th Environmental Impact Assessment Council regarding the draftof the Environmental Impact Assessment Report: Attendance,
Q&A

Tokyo Metropolitan
Government and online(available online)

December 2022

Developers briefing at the Council on the draft of theEnvironmental Impact Assessment Report

Tokyo Metropolitan
Government and online(available online)

Developers briefing at General Meeting of Environmental Impact
Assessment Council on the Environmental Impact Assessment
Report and Follow-up Survey Plan
Briefing at General Meeting of Environmental Impact Assessment
Council regarding developer rebuttal to remarks of ICOMOS
Japan (1st session)
Briefing at General Meeting of Environmental Impact Assessment
Council regarding developer rebuttal to remarks of ICOMOS
Japan (2nd session)Developers briefing at General Meeting of Environmental Impact
Assessment Council held subsequent to submission of the Followup Survey Report (part 1)

Tokyo Metropolitan
Government and online(available online)
Tokyo Metropolitan
Government and online(available online)
Tokyo Metropolitan
Government and online(available online)
Tokyo Metropolitan
Government and online(available online)

January 2023

April 2023

May 2023

July 2023(2) Briefings and other such forums held in relation to the urban planning process, etc.
Date
January 2020
June 2021
August 2021

Event
Briefing on the Jingu Gaien District Urban Redevelopment Projectbased on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Park-centered
Urban Development System Implementation Guidelines
Briefing on the Jingu Gaien District Urban Redevelopment Project
overview
Briefing on the draft of the Environmental Impact Assessment
ReportNumber of briefings
222

May 29, 2024
(3) Discretionary developer briefing for local residents
DateJuly 2023

EventNumber of briefings

Discretionary briefing to enhance understanding regarding detailsof the Project3