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[Unofficial description by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

A public hearing was held regarding the planned construction of the new Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium as part of the Meiji Jingu Gaien redevelopment project in Tokyo. The new stadium is set to stand 48 metres tall, and its construction will involve the felling of a large number of trees.

The date of the hearing was announced only about a week in advance, and more than half of the 37 speakers who had submitted written opinions were unable to attend. Despite calls from participants to hold a second session in a way that would allow broader participation, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government showed no willingness to do so. In protest, the speakers refused to leave, declaring, “We will not leave until a second hearing is guaranteed.”

One of the speakers, Professor Mikiko Ishikawa, Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo, criticised the way the hearing was concluded without consent, telling HuffPost Japan that it amounted to “a deprivation of citizens’ fundamental rights.”

The UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights has also expressed concern over the Jingu Gaien redevelopment, noting that public consultation has been insufficient and warning of “potential adverse impacts on human rights.” HuffPost has sent questions to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Bureau of Urban Development seeking comment on whether a second public hearing will be held.