Views of valuable cultural assets threatened

Residents of Nishi-Nippori in Tokyo's Arakawa Ward learned last September that their beloved Fujimizaka (Mt Fuji viewing slope) could soon be dealt a severe blow. Fujimizaka is the only natural place left in the heart of Tokyo where Mt Fuji can be seen nearly in its entirety. Sixteen other similarly named slopes running along the street from Ueno to Asukayama have existed since the Edo Era. Until 2000, however, Fujimizaka was the last of these commanding a view of both sides and the top of the mountain.

In 1999, Nippon Kokan Fudosan, an affiliate of steel giant NKK Corp, began construction of a 13-floor apartment building in Bunkyo Ward, 1.5 kms away from Fujimizaka. The proposed building completely obstructed the view of the left side of Mt Fuji, prompting Nishi-Nippori residents to form the Nippori Fujimizaka Mamorukai (Association to Preserve Nippori Fujimizaka) in 2000. The group raised 5,000 signatures and petitioned Arakawa Ward and the city, urging NKK to lower the proposed building height to nine floors and preserve the view. Ultimately, NKK proceeded with construction of the full 13 floors. Lowering the height by just four floors, the company said, would have cost them 450 million yen.

The Tokyo metropolitan government established the Scenic Sights Law in 2004. Under direction of individual city wards, the law applied to the views surrounding such valuable man-made landmarks as Tokyo Station, the National Diet Building, and the State Guest House. Natural sites, on the other hand, were not protected under the law. The Association to Preserve Nippori Fujimizaka has continued to work for the revision of the law to include natural sites as well. In the case of Fujimizaka, they noted, preservation would be a relatively simple task as the view from the hill commands a fairly narrow range.

Last September, Nishi-Nippori residents learned that Sumitomo Fudosan had purchased land in Shinjuku Ward’s Okubo 3-chome and was planning to complete the construction of a 160-meter-tall, 45-floor building, by late 2013. The planned building, six kilometers away, would completely obstruct the view of the middle of Mt Fuji.

Since that time, the Association to Preserve Nippori Fujimizaka has appealed Arakawa Ward and city officials to negotiate with Sumitomo and urge them to lower the proposed building height by 40 meters. Included in their appeals is a request to work together on changing the current Scenic Sights Law to include natural sites along with man-made ones. “Vistas such as Fujimizaka,” stated an October 2011 appeal, “are scenery that should be made available for the enjoyment of everyone. We cannot stand by and let companies or individuals claim exclusive possession of these spots by obstructing them, or let city ordinances turn a blind eye to such cases.”

Fearing a repeat of the events in 2000, association members have also sought the assistance of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), an advisory body for the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. In December, ICOMOS adopted the association’s resolution calling for a re-evaluation of construction plans, and a development of guidelines to protect the remaining views of Mt Fuji. “Among capital cities in Asia,” ICOMOS committee member Masuda Kanefusa stated in December, “Tokyo has some of the fewest world heritage sites.”

The damage to the view from Fujimizaka is not the only problem that the proposed Sumitomo building would create. Its current location would put it directly behind the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery in Meijijingu Gaien. Although separated by four kilometers, the 160-meter-tall building would exceed the height of the Picture Gallery and be visible from the main road extending from Aoyama 2-chome. Current city ordinances, including a 2007 directive for scenic planning, only regulate building height within a two-kilometer radius of such valuable cultural properties as the Picture Gallery.

The Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery was built in 1926 in honor of the Meiji emperor. In 2011, it was designated by the city as an important cultural property. Situated at one end of a long road running to Aoyama and lined with large ginko trees, the domed building is known as one of the “faces of Tokyo.”

“Although part of the building would extend over the top right corner of the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery,” stated a Sumitomo building outline, “this would be hard to distinguish from a distance.” Tohoku University of Art and Design Professor Aiba Yaosu, however, disagrees. “The building would extend over the dome and have a great effect on the view of the Meiji Picture Gallery. It is difficult to say that the city’s regulations are working effectively,” he stated.

An official in charge of city development said: “The proposed building is located at a distance of four kilometers and would have little effect on the Meiji Picture Gallery. While it’s important to protect the scenery, if you enforce the regulations too strictly, it could infringe on property rights. It’s a difficult balance.”

Fujimizaka is a short walk from either Nippori or Nishi-Nippori Station. More information about the Association to Preserve Nippori Fujimizaka, as well as pictures and a live ustream can be found at their website, http://fujimizaka.yanesen.org/.

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