Photo/Illutration A poster of musician Ryuichi Sakamoto hangs at a rally in Tokyo’s Meiji Jingu Gaien district on April 22 where an estimated 6,000 people gathered to show support for calls to review plans to redevelop the area. (Soichi Tsuchidate)

Thousands of people rallied in Tokyo against moves to redevelop the capital’s leafy Meiji Jingu Gaien district, carrying on a campaign that was central to acclaimed late musician Ryuichi Sakamoto.

“Sakamoto used to say it would be better if the time came when musicians do not have to make these statements,” Masafumi Gotoh, lead vocalist of the rock band Asian Kung-fu Generation, said at the April 22 rally held in the Meiji Jingu Gaien district. “It is necessary for each and every one of us to understand and face this issue and discuss what the future should be.”

Author Seiko Ito contributed a message to the event, which was organized by a citizens group co-led by Sakamoto. An estimated 6,000 people attended.

The private-sector project, approved by the metropolitan government in February, calls for rebuilding Meiji Jingu Stadium and Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, among other changes.

More than 700 trees will be felled although developers promised to plant saplings. They said the green area will increase when the project, estimated to cost about 349 billion yen ($2.62 billion), is completed in 2036.

A month before his death on March 28, Sakamoto sent a letter to Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, saying, “We should not sacrifice valuable trees that our forerunners have protected and grown over 100 years in favor of near-term economic benefits.”

Sakamoto had battled cancer for many years.

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