Human beings are freely selling and buying
forests nurtured by fairies. If there should
be democracy established by all living beings on earth, probably it would be an
unforgivable act.
Masatoshi
Takeshita
April
1, 2013
Photo: Wikimedia
English translation of a Japanese article: “Hibi Tantan” Document Blog – March 30, 2013 –
Will
Water in Tokyo Metropolitan Area Disappear?
Water
Resources Bought Up by Foreign Capital One After Another
As the forests in the
country have been bought up by foreign capital, water of the Tokyo Metropolitan
area is in danger.
Although Prime Minister Abe spoke about the protection of water resources
in the Diet, he has not taken any measures yet.
According to the Forest Agency, at least 760 hectares of forest have been bought up by
foreign companies (at the end of fiscal year 2011).
However, “this is just
the tip of the iceberg,” which is a warning of Mr Junji
Hashimoto, the author of “Groundwater in Japan in Danger,” who is familiar with
the water problem.
“There are some cases
in which forests are actually controlled by Chinese companies under the names
of Japanese. It is safe to say
that at a moderate estimate 1,000 hectares of forest have been bought up by
them. Forestland is cheap, 500,000 JPY per
hectare. And sale and purchase of forestland
is allowed even to a foreigner without any regulations. The forestland in the Metropolitan area has
been eroded. It is known that the two
cases in Hakone have been bought up by an individual and a corporation (both of
Chinese nationals), one case in Chichibu, upper reach of the Arakawa river,
Saitama, and three cases in Gunma, upper reach of the Tone river have been
bought up by foreign capital.
It was not until 2011 that these problems
were brought to light. A Singaporean
bought 44 hectares of land with water right in Tsumagoi village, Gunma
Prefecture. As the purchase of the land
was registered to the local town, the residents, who were worried about water
shortage, responded strongly against it.
People living in the
Metropolitan area cannot feel secure because the upper reaches of the Arakawa
and the Tone rivers have actually been bought up. There is no guarantee that water will never be
bought up and reservoirs will never dry up.
“Some local governments in Kanto have been
taking measures to protect reservoirs by establishing regulations. The revised Forest Ac was established in
April 2012. The Act stipulates that any
transaction in land, regardless of area, should be notified to the governor
within 90 days. This will help grasp the
situation, but the report after notification cannot work as a brake against
buyout of forestland. However, if a landowner
insists on property right, there is nothing to object to it.” (Comment by Mr.
Hashimoto)
We have no other choice
but to promptly take measures.
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