Japan Press Weekly

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2015 September 2 - 8 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Tokyo governor refuses to meet to-be-displaced residents

Tokyo Governor Masuzoe Yoichi on September 4 mentioned that he will not meet with residents who are being ordered to move out of a Tokyo-owned apartment complex near the construction site of a national athletic stadium.

The Tokyo governor also said that he has no intention to change the plan to demolish this public housing complex associated with the Olympic-related construction although the central government decided to drastically reduce the size of the project to construct a new stadium as the main venue for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

At a press conference, a journalist told the governor that the Tokyo metropolitan government will not have to displace the remaining inhabitants if it leaves three or four housing units out of the 10 unit intact. Asked if he even bothers to listen to these residents, the governor answered “No.”

Regarding his refusal to meet, Ohashi Tomoko of a residents’ organization said, “We want him to listen to our opinions directly and reconsider the demolition plan.”

After the decision to trim down the construction project, Kasumigaoka Apartment dwellers on September 3 requested that the governor hold meetings with those who are under threat of eviction.

Past related articles:
> Tokyo JCP to Olympic Minister: Don’t demolish public housing complex to build Olympic stadium [August 5, 2015]
> Tokyo residents petition governor not to demolish public housing for 2020 Olympics [June 23, 2015]