The history of the Meiji Jingu forest project dates back to July 30, 1912 when Emperor Meiji passed away. After it was decided to build his mausoleum in Kyoto, the ancient Imperial seat for more than 1,000 years, Tokyo citizens asked the government to build a Shinto shrine--not a grave--in Tokyo to commemorate his virtues and offer veneration. Consequently, it was decided that a shrine commemorating Emperor Meiji would be built in what was then Yoyogi in Tokyo. Following this decision, in 1915 several leading experts in forestry and landscape architecture launched the shrine forest project.