We are searching for any individual, corporation, foundation, or administrative organization that may save the traditional Mt. Fuji view in central Tokyo.
CITIZENS ALLIANCE TO SAVE FUJI-VIEW
Tokyo used to have many places to see Mt. Fuji, all white in snow or silhouetted at sunset. Shogun Ieyasu considered Mt. Fuji in his city planning in the late 16th century. Hiroshige and Hokusai always included the mountain in their renditions of Edo.
The historic view has mostly been lost today to mushrooming high-rises. There is, however, one exception, which is Fujimi-zaka slope near Nippori station on JR Keihin Tohoku line. The narrow slope descends from a venerable old shrine to a Shitamachi town, where traditional craftsmen live and mom-and-pop shops thrive. Standing at the top, you can see the noble mountain soaring above the crowded city. Children see it on their way to and from a local school, and visitors feel much comfort at the sight of Japan's symbol mountain.
This view is now threatened by a construction project. A 13 story high condominium building under construction on the Hongo-dori, Bunkyo-ku 1.5 kilometers away, will hide the mountain's left-hand slope now visible from Fujimi-zaka. The steel framework will go up to 13 floors on April 9, 2000. If it stops at the 9th level, the view will not be damaged.
We, Citizens Alliance to Protect the View of Mt. Fuji from Tokyo, think it important to preserve this historic view. We have been negotiating with NKF, the constructor, for the revision of their plan. The company has asked for \450,000,000 in compensation for an estimated loss due to our proposed revision, or, purchase of the whole building at \1,200,000,000. We are also negotiating with NKF's parent, NKK, the third largest steel maker in Japan, to take over the project and limit the building to 9 floors.
We are searching for supporters. Please contact us at the addresses given below. If you know of any individual, corporation, foundation, or administrative organization that may be interested in buying this building, please let us know.
Citizens Alliance to Save the Fuji-View (CASF)
Mr. Kazuteru Chiba, FAX:03-5814-1916
Yanesen Kobo, Attn. Mrs. Noriko Yamazaki, Fax:03-3822-7623