The 2020 Olympic Games: Odaiba Marine Park
By Elena Lisina
For the last 150 years, Tokyoites have been moved far from the shoreline, mainly because of the reclamation of land and (more recently) the construction of Haneda Airport and port facilities. Tokyo citizens were, in a way, forced to stay far away from the water. We couldn’t smell the sea breeze, and we couldn’t play in and around the bay easily.
All of that is changing. In 2001, the National government, the Tokyo City government (and Yokohama, Chiba, and others) along with Minato Ward, decided to launch an urban revitalization project, including “the regeneration of Tokyo Bay.” Targets include improving the quality of the water, protection of sea creatures, and regaining our enjoyable marine life. Happily, Odaiba Kaihinkoen (Odaiba Marine Park) is one of the highest priority spots for the project.
Because it contains such a beautiful cityscape, I hope the sea in and around Odaiba will enrich our city life for many generations to come.
