A landlord in Asakara city, Fukuoka, is expected to cancel the last remaining portion of a condo project aimed primarily at foreign buyers, amid continued protests. City officials disclosed this during a press conference on December 1.
The landowner plans to notify the developer this month, saying the response has been too strong to continue collaboration on construction.
According to city officials, the developer previously presented the plan at a community meeting. The proposal was to build two 14-storey condo towers inside the Kakiwada area of the golf course property.
The project was designed for 290 units, with housing for 705 people.
Buyer demographics were expected to be approximately 40% from mainland China, 40% from Hong Kong or Taiwan, and 20% from Korea or Japan.
The developer is reportedly part of a China-based corporate group.
At the meeting, he also mentioned the possibility of expanding the project to six towers in the future.
After the plan became public in mid-September, opposition quickly grew on social media.
Some locals dubbed it a "mega condo for Chinese buyers". Another wrote plainly, "We oppose immigration policies."
An online petition demanding cancellation gathered more than 50,000 signatures.
Meanwhile, false posts claimed that the Fukuoka government has already approved the project.
A flood of calls and emails forced officials to provide clarification. A spokesperson told reporters, "The claim that the province has approved this plan is completely baseless."
No indication that existing buildings on the site are being demolished.
Asakura City reported receiving approximately 1,250 protest messages by phone and email.
Many people called on the city to stop the project altogether. Some posts also urged people to "go straight to the mayor."
As a result, Mayor Yuji Hayashi canceled his appearance at a local fireworks festival on September 20.
On October 9, the developer posted a statement on its website trying to calm the backlash.
The statement said: "The condos will be sold to people of all nationalities. The project is not intended to promote immigration."
The company then scaled down the plan from two towers to one tower and reduced the number of units to 164.
But the protest did not stop.
On 9 and 16 November, residents demonstrated in the street.
On November 27, a local woman submitted a petition with 2,395 signatures, demanding a citywide briefing.
City officials also revealed that the landowner had ties to the golf course operator.
On November 5, the media reported that the landowner's representative had already told golf course officials that they would not cooperate with the construction.
After the city asked for confirmation, the operator said the landowner would formally notify the developer by the end of December.
City officials said they will continue to monitor the developer's next steps. If the project is not officially withdrawn, they will require a public briefing for all residents.
Sources close to the golf course said that about five years ago, the landowner entered into a capital partnership with a China-based group, originally planning to develop the unused land together.
