A poster of the musician Ryuichi Sakamoto hangs at a rally in Tokyo's Meiji Jingu Gaien district on April 22 where 6,000 people gathered to show support for calls to review plans to redevelop the area. Thousands of people rallyed in Tokyo against moves to redevelop the city's leafy Meiji Jingu Gaien district, with a campaign that was central to acclaimed late musician Ryuichi Sakamoto.
Sakamoto used to say it would be better if the time came when musicians do not have to make these statements, Mr. Masafumi Gotoh, lead vocalist of the rock band Asian Kung-fu Generation, said at the April 22 rally held in the Meiji Jingu Gaien district. To understand and discuss this problem, it's crucial for each and every one of us to understand this issue and discuss what the future should be. The event was organized by a citizens group co-led by Sakamoto, with author Seiko Ito contributing a message. An estimated 6,000 people attended the event.
The project, approved by the metropolitan government in February, calls for the reconstruction of Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium and Meiji Jingu Stadium, among other changes.
Developers are planning to plant more than 700 saplings in the future, despite being told they could not grow them. When the project is completed in 2036, it is estimated to cost about $349 billion yen $2.62 billion.
A month before his death on March 28, Sakamoto sent a letter to Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, saying, We should not sacrifice valuable trees that our forerunners have protected and grown over 100 years in favor of near-term economic benefits. For many years, Sakamoto had struggled with cancer.