one-tsubo movement; campaign to block public works by buying tiny plots
A historical Japanese protest tactic where activists purchase a minuscule piece of land (one tsubo ≈ 3.3 m²) within a planned construction site to legally obstruct the project. The term is specific to Japanese land-acquisition activism.
People opposing the construction of Narita Airport carried out the one-tsubo movement.
The one-tsubo movement was a protest method that exploited loopholes in the land expropriation law.
Compound of 一坪 (one tsubo, a unit of area about 3.3 m²) and 運動 (movement, campaign). The term describes a tactic where activists buy a tiny plot of land to legally block large-scale public construction projects.