Key Facts
• Toyohashi City plans to build a new arena in Toyohashi Park.
• The project involves demolishing a baseball field to construct a 5,000-seat arena.
• The plan has been in development for over 10 years.
• Concerns arose over the relocation of the baseball field to a tsunami-prone area.
• Rising construction costs also fueled opposition.
• A citizen group demanded a referendum, but the city council initially rejected it.
• Mayor Naoto Nagasaka, an opponent of the project, halted the construction.
• The referendum coincides with the House of Councillors election.
• Approximately 290,000 Toyohashi residents are eligible to vote.
• Supporters argue the arena is vital for economic revitalization and sports development.
• Opponents criticize the project as wasteful and question its financial feasibility.
• The arena is required for the local basketball team, San-en NeoPhoenix, to join the 2026 B.League Premier.
• The referendum aims to resolve the conflict between the mayor and the city council.
Summary
Toyohashi City faces a critical decision on the construction of a new 5,000-seat arena in Toyohashi Park. The project, in planning for over a decade, has divided the city due to concerns over costs and the relocation of a baseball field to a tsunami-prone area. Mayor Naoto Nagasaka, who opposes the project, halted construction, leading to a standoff with the city council. A referendum, held alongside the House of Councillors election, will allow approximately 290,000 residents to decide the project’s fate. Supporters highlight the arena’s potential to boost local sports and economic activity, particularly for the San-en NeoPhoenix basketball team, which requires the facility to join the 2026 B.League Premier. Opponents argue the project is unnecessary and financially burdensome. The referendum seeks to resolve this divisive issue and unify the city.
