I put this comment on the activist Kikuchi Konomi’s weblog on Earthday website in June 18, 2009. But she deleted them next day.
Kikuchi Konomi’s weblog URL
http://earthday.ning.com/profiles/blogs/leading-japanese-movie
Environmental Activists Mr. Paul Coleman a.k.a. Earthwalker and his wife Kikuchi Konomi criticize the development of Minamiyama in Inagi City. But their arguments are based on imprecise information. As a citizen of Inagi, I never welcome such kind of discourse. Anybody can join the controversy about Minamiyama but it must be based on precise information and data.
(deleted comments below)
>this much loved was based on a true story of a gigantic housing development that destroyed a forested mountain on the edge of Inagi around the time of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Scenes from Minamiyama were used in this movie and raccoons can still be found there.
It is not true.
The movie used photographer Kobayashi Isao’s “LANDSCAPES” as image material. The works by Kobayashi was taken at Tama City and Inagi City. But it was not images of Minamiyama. Kobayashi commented here that he took photographs at Sakahama area in Inagi City. Sakahama is not Minamiyama.
>“I was very impressed to see my movie again in a different light, perhaps because I saw that Minamiyama mountain was in a similar situation.”
It is not true.
The development of Tama Newtown was done by Japan Government and Tokyo Metropolitan Government. In contrast, the development of Minamiyama is done by its 260 landowners.
In addition, Tama Newtown is much loved by its residents. I think Tama Newtown has one of the most beautiful suburban landscapes in the world. I love it very much.
>Minamiyama is one of the biggest Satoyama (woodlands close the human habitat) in Tama Area (Western Tokyo). It has approximately 90 metres of elevation above the close surroundings, about 100 hectares of untouched nature remain, however with the development at least 87 acres of mountain and forest will be removed.
It is not true.
First, the development of Minamiyama will be done on 87hectares. NOT 87 acres.
Second. Minamiyama had been used as a common by Yanoguchi, Momura and Naganuma village.
Minamiyama was overused, rarely planted bald hills. You can see the situation in the painting “Chofu Tamagawa Sohgazu”.
http://www.parthenon-museum.jp/high_reso/gallery03.htm
The nature of Minamiyama is NOT untouched.
>In the bottom line, this is the tax counter measure project designed to return income to the landowners, of which the largest are two of Japan's leading corporations.
It is not true.
The two companies are Mitsui Fudosan and Yomiuri Land. Yomiuri Land has it headquarters in Inagi City. It is a local company.
Second, they will not have much benefit from this development.
Mitsui has 12 hectares, Yomiuri has 13hectares. But Mitsui’ s ground are on the edge of the cliff, then their compensation will be only 2 hectares! Yomiuri will have 5-6 hectares as compensation. In short, they will have only 13% of the developed ground.
>“the land specialist pointed out that once Minamiyama's earth layer is largely sand , are if the forests that hold it together are destoyed, the land could liquify in an earthquake which would lead to the collapse of the house developed there.
The “Land Specialist” is Mr. Sakamaki Yukio. His specialty is geology. NOT Soil Mechanics. I think he is not specialist.
>the president of “Association for Preservation of Inagi's Satoyama and Historical Sites” proposed that the government should either purchase the land or lease the land under “Designation for Green Area Preservation of Tokyo.”
Therefore, Tokyo Metropolitan Government has the key role to play.
The price tag of the Minamiyama should be at least 25 billion JPY(estimated by Inagi City), I have heard from landowners that they will not sell at such a bargain price. They say they will sell it at least 50 billion JPY.
If the citizens of Tokyo agreed to pay the money, Minamiyama will be saved. I have no opinion with that idea. You can pursue it.
(to be continued on the next posting)
