We did “Chinjo” December 18th 15:30

"I want to play soccer"

It is a sincere wish for small children living in Tokyo.
“The petition to the parliament” is the means that we have come up with to fulfill that wish.

300 days when children thought and struggled. I reproduced that day.
(Tokyo Metropolitan Broadcasting Center reporter Naohiro Toba)

Sudden soccer ban

I am Yuma who lives in Itabashi Ward. He is a sixth grader who goes to a local public elementary school. I love soccer, and I participate in the practice of my soccer club on weekends. Even after school on weekdays, it was a daily routine to play soccer with classmates Kanto and Taisei.

Yes, until that day ...

February 12th. After leaving school, I left home with a soccer ball as usual. I went to the old Itabashi third elementary school by bicycle. It is an elementary school ground that was closed before I was born (2002). Even if I have n’t promised, I ’ll be someone if I go here. I always enjoyed kicking the ball until it got dark without getting bored. When I tried to go out to the ground, a boy I always saw sat down.

"What's wrong?"

"I can no longer play soccer here"

"Eh ... are you lying?"

"The ball can no longer be used"

It was written on the pasted white paper.

“The old 3rd small ground is wide enough to play baseball and soccer at the same time, and for us it is a precious place where you can kick the ball.

Due to the construction of the child guidance center, the ground was divided into about half of the space by white walls. That is why ball play was banned.

A letter to the mayor

The old third school building has a volunteer center. I complained to Mr. Kamimoto, a familiar staff member.

Mr. Kamimoto is in trouble, saying, "Well, if you are dissatisfied, you can only tell the ward."

"Tell me the ward ..."

For the time being, I decided to go to the ward office with the Hayato people. The ward office near the Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway, Itabashi Junction has the North Building and the South Building, which is a large building up to the 13th floor. Where should I go?

I explained to the staff at the window about the terrible circumstances and told me that there was a system called “Letter to the Director”.

“If you can ask the head of the ward directly, it ’s one shot.”

The text came to my mind. I was crazy about it and wrote the length of my thoughts together.

“We are 5th graders. We are not able to play ball. From that, we are very worried. If you can make a new park, etc. Japan is a very small country, and it is very difficult to make such a place in Tokyo, but we want to play soccer.

About a month later, the ward finally got a reply. If you open the seal in anticipation, you will find a piece of paper written on the machine, unlike your own handwritten.

“There are 15 parks where you can play ball”

“We open the elementary school yard, but for safety we can only use a soft soccer ball.”

I was filled with disappointing feelings.

“It ’s dangerous if you hit a younger child, so you ’re supposed to use only a soft ball in the schoolyard. Of course, I know that. It ’s not an answer at all. ”

Passing days

I decided to practice at the nearby park, which was introduced in the letter from the mayor. But you can play with the ball only in the space surrounded by the fence. Compared to the previous ground, the area is only about 1/6.

Moreover, even if it becomes a nuisance to the neighborhood, even a note to avoid hitting the ball against the fence. If you can't kick the ball, you can't practice the game.

Taisei also says, "If you hit the fence, your neighbors will get angry and ask me if you can be quiet."

Do you have a playground? I examined it by myself

April. We are in 6th grade.

Are there other places where you can play with the ball? Using the time after school, I decided to check by cycling around a nearby park or calling the ward office. There were several things I found out.

A large park with a lawn The key closes at 4:30 pm, so you can hardly play after school.
Over 90% of baseball ground groups are booked. Moreover, an adult must be accompanied on the day.
Another elementary school ground that has been closed for use by groups on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The other day is locked and cannot be entered.

“Everyone said, but on the homepage it says that you can play the ball, but it ’s really inconvenient if you see the sign and it ’s forbidden or the usage time is short.”

Request to Congress “Pleasure”

It was Mr. Kamimoto who was in the Volunteer Center of the 3rd Small School who took such a consultation.

Mr. Kotsue Kamimoto, former staff of the volunteer center “I thought I was really in trouble because I was always playing well. I thought about how to support them while taking care of their thoughts.”

We had a meeting with Kamimoto-san every month.

“Children of the lower grades and the elderly are dangerous if they hit a soccer ball.”

“Then, what rules are there for everyone to understand?”

"Can we ask the ward office what our children are saying?"

What was said in it was "How do you make a petition?"

"Chinjo" ...?

A ward member who introduced me taught me how it works. The flow of petition is this. After the greatest chairman accepts the “Request for Petition”, it is first reviewed by the committee. If it passes, it will be decided whether it will be formally recognized at the plenary session.

A petition written in November after repeated discussions.

1. 1. Extend the park end time from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm We want you to open baseball ground more generally 3. We want you to be able to use schoolyard that was closed

In addition, the opinion of wanting more places where you can play baseball and soccer was included.

“I borrowed the power of adults, but I was able to write their thoughts properly”

In the district council committee ...

A petition from an elementary school student first presented to the Itabashi City Council. On December 3rd and 4th, the committee examined. It seems that various opinions came out.

“Of course, if you change your position, such as the problem of securing space, infants and parents before school, the principle claims will change. You must think from a broad perspective.”

“Old and young men and women gather in the park in the first place, so we should examine what standards and why the rules are decided.”

“In the case of the schoolyard, 1st to 6th graders play a variety of games.

Certainly the park and the ground belong to everyone. Some people have opinions like us, others have opposition. That's why the Congress decides that the representatives of the residents should not be unfair.

What we won

The result of the examination was reported in the old third small.

“If accepted, it ’s“ adopted ”, what ’s going on is“ continue ”, and if it ’s not, can it be“ not adopted ”?”

"Yes. Well then, I will announce. First, the time extension of the first park ..." Adopted! "

“Eh…” “Yeah!”

We hugged together. I was about to cry.

What we won.

1. The park hours will be extended until 5:30 in the evening from spring to autumn. Closed school yard available on Wednesday

The general opening of the baseball ground will be discussed under “Continue”.

Itabashi Ward Child Policy Division Shuji Amatani, “It is very difficult to concentrate a limited space on children's playgrounds. Although there are issues such as adjustments, I would like to proceed while discussing so that the playground can be enhanced. ''

“I was able to know that adults were talking and deciding in this way. I thought it would have been good if I didn't act.

308 days after the playground is gone. Our “battle” is over.

Since going to junior high school soon, the chance of playing soccer after school may be reduced. However, I was a little proud to be able to do it for my juniors.

NHK is looking for the opinions and opinions of the parties regarding the “Children's Playground”. There is a site called “News Post” in NHK News WEB. Please post here.

News post

Write “Playground” in the post. Thank you for your cooperation.

Tokyo Metropolitan Broadcasting Center Reporter Naohiro Toba Fukuoka Station After taking charge of the incident at the Yokohama Station, he now covers a wide range of topics on minority issues, incident victim protection, and educational issues. My hobby is Aikido.