Organizational Structure of TMG

Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly

Composition

The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly is made up of 127 members directly elected by Tokyo citizens to serve a term of four years.

The President

The President of the Assembly is elected from among its members. The President represents the Assembly, presides over its sessions, and supervises its affairs. He or she also expresses the Assembly's opinions externally. As a support organization for the Assembly, a Secretariat is provided and the President is empowered to appoint and dismiss its staff members.

Committees

Because the structure and roles of the metropolitan administration are vast, varied, and complex, in order to ensure thorough discussion and efficient proceedings, the Assembly establishes committees for specialized study and discussion. The committees are divided into standing committees and special committees set up by the Assembly to consider specific subjects.

Authority of the Assembly

The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly is the formal decision-making organ of Tokyo Metropolis. It has the authority to, among other things, enact, amend, and repeal metropolitan ordinances, approve the budget and certify its settlement, and elect members of the Election Administration Commission and other such bodies. In addition, the consent of the Assembly must be sought for important appointments, nominations, and other designations made by the Governor such as those of a Vice Governor or administrative commission member. Representing the people of Tokyo, the Assembly also has the powers to investigate and inspect all aspects of the metropolitan government.

Executive Organs

The Governor

The Governor is directly elected by the citizens, and represents the Metropolis of Tokyo. With a four-year term of office, he or she has overall control of metropolitan affairs, and the authority and responsibility for managing the metropolitan administration.

Auxiliary Administrative Agencies

To assist the Governor in dealing with the affairs within his or her authority, Vice Governors and other staff members are provided. A total of 165,431 positions have been approved as of August 1, 2023, for staff members of these auxiliary administrative agencies. (Breakdown: Governor's bureaus, 18,827; administrative commissions and the Assembly, 1,073; public enterprises, 12,856; police/firefighting, 65,185; school teachers and administrative staff, 67,490.)

Personnel

Recruitment

The Personnel Commission usually holds examinations for the recruitment of new staff, and candidates who pass the examinations are employed by the Governor and other officials who have appointive powers. In some occupations like nursing, specially authorized officials directly conduct exams and employ personnel.

Recruitment examinations are conducted after being publicly announced to ensure wide public awareness, and they include written examinations and interviews. These examinations are split into different levels according to the difficulty of the questions. The examinations are completely open to everyone on an equal basis regardless of gender, academic background, or social position.

Nationality requirements on 44 out of 73 positions have been removed, opening up employment opportunities to foreign nationals. To accelerate the employment of disabled persons, examinations are held in braille or using enlarged print, and recruitment targeting individuals with disabilities is held.

Appointment

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government's personnel appointment system is based on ability and job performance. Through a fair and impartial selection process, promotion to deputy director and managerial positions is based on personal efforts and merit, rather than academic background or the category an individual was originally hired under.

According to individual career aspirations, “generalization” or “specialization” can be chosen, resulting in a variety of paths for promotion. Young senior staff members are eligible to take the “Managerial Position Selection A” test, and if selected, they are trained to assume managerial positions requiring a metropolitan administration-wide perspective. Team leaders and deputy directors are eligible to take the “Managerial Position Selection B” test, which selects personnel based on their experience and achievements for managerial positions centering on their area of specialty. There is also a selection process for specialists to take on managerial positions in specific areas.

Human Resource Development

In order to respond to the increasingly sophisticated and complex needs of Tokyo residents for administrative services, as well as to develop human resources possessing a high level of knowledge, ability, and experience who can cope with the various challenges Tokyo faces, the metropolitan government has drawn up a set of basic guidelines aimed at developing metropolitan government personnel. Under these guidelines, efforts are taken to manage personnel with a focus on human resource development; this includes training, performance evaluation, and deployment of personnel resources.

The basic approach taken with respect to solid employee training is to shape individual staff capabilities to match organization needs, and to respond to employee motivation for skill improvement, developing individual capabilities to the fullest. From this perspective, the metropolitan government is implementing a practical and comprehensive human resource development program that effectively combines (1) on-the-job training through daily duties in the workplace, (2) off-the-job training undertaken away from daily duties, and (3) personal development through self-education.

Organization of the TMG (as of April 1, 2024)

Operations

Governor's Bureaus

Office of the Governor for Policy Planning

Divisions

• General Affairs Division
• Policy Division
• Strategic Public Relations Division
• Planning and Coordination Division
• International Affairs Division

Principal operations

Assists the top management operations of the governor by serving as a bridge between the governor and the bureaus holding jurisdiction over matters on the ground in order to realize strategic and speedy operations that can properly respond to the constantly changing and diversifying administrative challenges facing Tokyo.

In order to make Tokyo a sustainable city that achieves a balance between maturity and ongoing growth, based on strategies such as Future Tokyo: Tokyo's Long-Term Strategy, which serves as the new compass guiding the metropolitan government, the office supports the bureaus in actively implementing advanced measures that will improve the lives of Tokyo residents by working to organically coordinate projects implemented by each bureau from a government-wide perspective. These include:

• Basic planning and overall coordination of Tokyo's administrative and fiscal affairs
• Planning of key policies
• Liaison with the press
• Promotion of city diplomacy
• Promotion of strategic public relations

Liaison Office for Child-Oriented Policies

Divisions

• Comprehensive Promotion Division
• Planning and Coordination Division

Principal operations

Responsible for

• Design of plans concerning children based on studies of best practices within and outside Japan
• Response to comprehensive issues concerning children by building systems for cooperation with the relevant bureaus.
• Implementation of pioneering projects in collaboration with a diversity of actors by taking a broad perspective that breaks away from the status quo of welfare and education.

Office for Startup and Global Financial City Strategy

Divisions

• Strategy Promotion Division
• Innovation Promotion Division

Principal operations

Comprehensively and strategically develops policies to bolster Tokyo’s global competitiveness through drawing out the full power of startups and finance, which will create a positive cycle of solving social challenges and economic growth.

Promotes initiatives in unison with all stakeholders including the national government, Japan’s municipalities centering on those in Tokyo, economic organizations, individual companies, and universities, to fulfill the TMG mission of contributing to the economic and social growth of not only Tokyo, but that of Japan as a whole.

Projects include those related to:

• Promoting start-up strategies
• Realizing Global Financial City: Tokyo
• Promoting the development of the business environment by using the special zone system
• Promoting strategic overseas promotional activities

Bureau of General Affairs

Divisions

• General Affairs Division
• Disaster Recovery Support Division
• Personnel Division
• Compliance Division
• Local Administration Division
• Disaster Prevention Division
• Statistics Division
• Human Rights Division

Principal operations

Coordinates and promotes projects and policies that straddle various bureaus to ensure the smooth implementation of work of the TMG as a whole:

• Internal management work such as controlling organizations and budgeted number of staff and their appointment and dismissal, labor management, and staff welfare
• Implementation of matters requiring a unified approach such as law interpretation, ordinance proposals, and litigations
• Disaster reduction and crisis management
• Human rights policies
• Support to regions affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 as well as to their displaced citizens residing in Tokyo

Others:

• Provision of advice and coordination with municipalities for administrative and fiscal management
• Compilation of statistics
• Support for management of the Tokyo Metropolitan Public University Corporation
• Promotion of information disclosure

Bureau of Finance

Divisions

• Accounting Division
• Budget Division
• Property Administration Division
• Public Building Construction and Maintenance Division

Principal operations

Responsible for the budget and other fiscal affairs and undertakes work on:

• Formation of the budget
• Formulation of mid- and long-term fiscal plans
• Overall management of contracts
• Operation and management of TMG-owned vehicles
• Overall coordination and use of TMG properties
• Design and construction of TMG-owned structures
• Provision of technical support to the other bureaus for maintenance work
• Management, operation, maintenance and other work concerning the TMG building and related facilities

Bureau of Digital Services

Divisions

• General Affairs Division
• Digital Strategy Division
• Digital Services Promotion Division
• Digital Infrastructure Division

Principal operations

For the comprehensive advancement of government services that utilize the power of digital technologies, the bureau is working with Govtech Tokyo to implement initiatives including:

• Providing support to the TMG bureaus and municipalities engaging in digital transformation
• Securing and cultivating digital talent
• Promoting digitalization of administrative procedures
• Implementing measures to realize Smart Tokyo
• Building the digital infrastructure and implementing security measures

Bureau of Taxation

Divisions

• General Affairs Division
• Tax System Division
• Taxation Division
• Property Tax Division
• Tax Collection Division

Principal operations

Responsible for:

• Imposition and collection of a total of 16 categories of metropolitan taxes that are the foundation of Tokyo's finances, including business tax, motor vehicle tax, gas oil delivery tax, real estate acquisition tax, and fixed assets tax (for the 23 special wards only)
• Planning and coordination of tax systems for each category
• Response to tax inquiries by Tokyo residents

Facilities include:

• Tokyo Metropolitan Taxation offices and branch offices located throughout the wards and Tama area
• Tokyo Metropolitan Tax Operations Center
• Automobile taxation offices

Bureau of Citizens, Culture and Sports

Divisions

• General Affairs Division
• Citizens' Affairs Division
• Citizen Safety Promotion Division
• Consumer Affairs Division
• Private Schools Division
• Culture Promotion Division
• Comprehensive Sports Promotion Division
• International Sports Projects Division
• Sports Venue Division

Principal operations

Responsible for policies deeply related to the lives of the citizens of Tokyo, such as the following, and for the coordination and promotion of these programs across the bureaus.

• Promotion of community activities and multicultural symbiosis
• Promotion of gender equality and women's active participation in society
• Citizen safety and public safety measures, traffic safety measures, and support to young people
• Stability and improvement of consumer affairs
• Private schools
• Cultural and sports promotion

Bureau of Urban Development

Divisions

• General Affairs Division
• Urban Development Policy Division
• Urban Infrastructure Division
• Urban Development Projects Division
• Urban Building Division
• Tama Area Urban Development Policy Division
• US Military Facilities Relations Division

Principal operations

Responsible for tasks broadly relating to the lives of Tokyo's citizens and business activities:

• Formulation of overall urban development policies
• Construction of roads, railways and other urban infrastructure
• Improvement of built-up areas through land readjustment and urban redevelopment projects
• Provision of guidance for housing land development and architectural structures
• Measures for US military facilities

Office for Housing Policy

Divisions

• Housing Planning Division
• Private Housing Division
• Metropolitan Housing Management Division

Principal operations

Responsible for comprehensive housing policies including:

• Promoting the building of good-quality housing stock and good living environment
• Developing a housing market environment where residents can make appropriate choices
• Ensuring residential stability for Tokyo citizens experiencing housing distress

Bureau of Environment

Divisions

• General Affairs Division
• Climate Change Division
• Environmental Improvement Division
• Natural Environment Division
• Sustainable Materials Management Division

Principal operations

Engages in initiatives to find solutions to environmental issues in order to make Tokyo a green and resilient global city that paves the way to the future. These include:

• Initiatives to realize a sustainable city that is carbon neutral, conserves biodiversity, and has a good urban environment
• Initiatives to swiftly and accurately respond to the energy crisis

Bureau of Social Welfare

Divisions

• General Affairs Division
• Planning Division
• Guidance and Inspection Division
• Welfare Division
• Senior Citizen Policy Promotion Division
• Children and Child-Rearing Support Division
• Disabled Persons Programs Division

Principal operations

With the aim to realize a society that leaves no one behind, policies are promoted to meet the diverse needs of citizens in all stages of life, from childbirth and parenting to senior life, so that they can all live in their communities with peace of mind.

Initiatives include:

• Supporting children and households raising children
• Supporting individuals with disabilities and senior citizens
• Providing welfare and measures for the homeless
• Promoting barrier-free design to make communities inclusive
• Inspecting and providing guidance at social welfare facilities, etc.

Bureau of Public Health

Divisions

• General Affairs Division
• Planning Division
• Health Policy Division
• Medical Policy Division
• Metropolitan Hospital Support Division
• Health and Safety Division
• Infectious Disease Control Division

Principal operations

The provision of high-quality medical services and realization of an environment where people can be healthy throughout their lives are raised as the bureau’s goals. The full resources of Tokyo are also deployed to promote measures protecting Tokyo’s residents from diversifying health crises. Initiatives promoted include:

• Promoting healthier living
• Measures for intractable diseases
• Preparing healthcare delivery systems
• Guiding and supervising medical institutions, etc.
• Support for the operation of Tokyo Metropolitan Hospital Organization
• Monitoring and guidance for food and pharmaceuticals
• Environmental health measures
• Infectious disease response

Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs

Divisions

• General Affairs Division
• Commerce and Industry Division
• Financial Affairs Division
• Industry Energy Policy Division
• Tourism Division
• Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Division
• Employment Division

Principal operations

Implements projects to promote a wide range of industries, from manufacturing, service, and tourism to agriculture, forestry, and fishing, and for stable employment. These include:

• Provision of support to SMEs to, among others, improve and strengthen management, raise technological strength, promote entrepreneurship, vitalize shopping streets, and facilitate smoother fund procurement
• The diffusion of zero emission vehicles and the promotion of energy conservation, renewable energy sources and hydrogen use as industrial policy to realize Zero Emission Tokyo
• Utilization of a logo and other tools, to attract overseas visitors to Tokyo
• Development of tourism resources and an environment to receive foreign visitors
• Development of the infrastructure and implementation of programs to raise successors for stable management of the agriculture, forestry, marine, and livestock industries
• Measures to secure food safety
• Promotion of a forestry cycle
• Registration and inspection/guidance for the money lending businesses
• Promotion of local employment
• Securing of proper labor environments
• Development and enhancement of working skills that match diverse needs

Central Wholesale Market

Divisions

• Management Division
• Business Division

Principal operations

To ensure that fresh food and items such as marine products, produce, meat, and flowers are quickly delivered to the consumers, as the establisher of 11 central wholesale markets in Tokyo, duties include:

• Guidance and supervision of trading based on the Wholesale Market Act and ordinances
• Maintenance and management of the market facilities

Facilities include:

• Toyosu Market, Ota Market, and the Meat Market

Bureau of Construction

Divisions

• General Affairs Division
• Land Purchase Division
• Road and Street Administration Division
• Road and Street Construction Division
• Three Loop Roads Construction Promotion Division
• Park Division
• River Division

Principal operations

Promotes the construction of urban infrastructure that will contribute to the creation of a sophisticated disaster-resilient city, with the aim to realize a comfortable, and highly convenient city that can withstand disasters, by implementing:

• Construction of the Three Ring Expressways of the National Capital Region and arterial roads
• Promotion of the burying of utility lines and construction of designated routes for improvement
• Upgrade of rivers to protect the city from floods
• Development of parks and other spaces that not only provide relaxing places for Tokyo's residents, but serve as temporary refuge and bases for rescue efforts in the event of a disaster

Other responsibilities include:

• Construction and management of facilities such as zoos and an aquarium for the enjoyment of the citizens
• Implementation of proper maintenance and management and systematic renewals to ensure that the facilities are performing at their best

Bureau of Port and Harbor

Divisions

• General Affairs Division
• Port Management Division
• Waterfront Development Division
• Port Planning and Construction Division
• Island Harbors Division

Principal operations

Undertakes:

• Development and promotion of the Port of Tokyo, which holds a crucial role as a major logistics hub supporting the National Capital Region

Other duties include:

• Development of landfills in the waterfront area and other areas
• Construction of waste treatment centers
• Work on marine park projects
• Implementation of disaster reduction measures for the Port of Tokyo and the upgrading of harbors, fishing ports, airports and coastline of the islands of Tokyo to protect the residents from tsunami, storm surges, and other flooding

Bureau of Accounting

Divisions

• Management Division
• Police and Fire Department Cashier's Division

Principal operations

As the organization in charge of accounting, activities include:

• Management and safeguarding of cash and securities
• Confirmation of obligations
• Preparation of annual financial statements
• Planning, guidance, and inspection of accounting activities
• Advancing a new public accounting system through double entry accrual-based accounting
• Managing government funds
• Providing supplies to each bureau

Tokyo Fire Department

Divisions

• Planning and Coordination Division
• Safety Promotion Division
• Administration Division
• Human Resources Division
• Fire Suppression Division
• Disaster Preparedness Division
• Emergency Medical Service Division
• Fire Prevention Division
• Equipment Division
• Fire Academy

Principal operations

Established under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Tokyo for the special wards to work together in fulfilling their firefighting duties pursuant to the Fire Organization Act, the department:

• Is entrusted with the firefighting services of the cities, towns, villages of Tokyo, excluding Inagi City and the islands of Tokyo, pursuant to the Local Autonomy Act
• Is made up of headquarters, fire district headquarters, fire stations, fire station divisions, and fire station branches
• Protects the lives and assets of the Tokyo residents from fire through prevention, vigilance, and suppression of fires
• Reduces damage due to earthquakes or other disasters
• Transports those injured during a disaster to hospitals

Public Enterprise Bureaus

Bureau of Transportation

Divisions

• General Affairs Division
• Personnel Division
• Property Administration Division
• Subway and Streetcar Service Division
• Bus Service Division
• Rolling Stock and Electricity Division
• Construction and Maintenance Division

Principal operations

Operates the public transit systems of Toei Subway (Asakusa, Mita, Shinjuku, and Oedo lines), Toei Bus, Tokyo Sakura Tram (Toden Arakawa Line), Nippori-Toneri Liner, and the Ueno Park Monorail

Undertakes the hydropower generation business utilizing the water flow of the Tama River

＊ The Monorail is currently not in service.

Bureau of Waterworks

Divisions

• General Affairs Division
• Personnel Division
• Assets Management and Contracting Division
• Customer Service Division
• Purification Division
• Water Supply Division
• Construction Division

Tama Waterworks Reform Promotion Center

• Coordination Division
• Facilities Division

Principal operations

As of fiscal 2022, water is supplied to the 13.7 million residents living in the ward area and the 26 municipalities of the Tama area, an area totaling about 1,239 km²

The total volume of TMG’s water sources is 6.8 million m³ per day, capacity of water purification facilities is 6.84 million m³ per day, and total length of distribution pipes is 27,466 km

Industrial water used to be supplied to the eight wards along the Arakawa River and a portion of Nerima Ward, but this industrial-use water business was abolished as of March 31, 2023.

Bureau of Sewerage

Divisions

• General Affairs Division
• Personnel Division
• Accounting and Contracting Division
• Planning and Coordination Division
• Facilities Management and Maintenance Division
• Construction Division

Regional Sewerage Office

• Management Division
• Engineering Division

Principal operations

Along with fulfilling the basic functions of the sewer system, i.e. improving daily life through sewage treatment, flood control through removal of rainwater, and quality maintenance of public waters, in order to provide high quality sewerage services, the Management Plan 2021 was formulated in March 2021. The following initiatives are promoted:

• Implementation of system reconstruction, flood control, earthquake measures and other policies that help the residents of Tokyo feel safe and secure
• Combined sewer system improvement, improvement of treated wastewater quality, global warming measures, and other measures that contribute to the realization of a city with a good water environment and low environmental impact
• Stable provision of best services at minimum cost

Administrative Commissions

Board of Education (Office of Education)

Divisions

• General Affairs Division
• Metropolitan School Education Division
• Community Education Support Division
• Curriculum and Guidance Division
• Global Talent Cultivation Division
• Personnel Division
• Benefits and Welfare Division

Principal operations

Made up of the Director General and five members appointed by the governor upon approval by the metropolitan assembly:

• The Director General serves a three-year term and the members serve a four-year term
• The Director General presides over all affairs of the Board of Education and represents the Board

Main affairs managed and administered by the Board of Education include:

• Establishment and management of educational institutions such as public schools
• Personnel affairs such as appointment and dismissal of staff and teachers
• Admission, transfer, and withdrawal of students
• Provision of necessary directions, advice, and assistance to the municipal boards of education for the proper processing of affairs related to education

Secretariat to Election Administration Commission

Divisions

• General Affairs Section
• Election Section

Principal operations

The Commission is made up of four members elected by the metropolitan assembly to a four-year term. In order to ensure fair elections, it is independent of the governor

This collegiate administrative commission is assisted by the secretariat

Main duties include:

• Management of elections as stipulated under law
• Management of Supreme Court judge retention referendums
• Administrative work concerning election-related lawsuits
• Boosting public interest in elections
• Administrative work based on the Political Funds Control Act

Secretariat to Personnel Commission

Divisions

• Personnel Management and Equity Division
• Civil Service Examiner's Division

Principal operations

The Secretariat assists the Commission, a specialized administrative institution for personnel affairs, which is independent of the appointing authority

The Commission is made up of three members appointed by the governor for a four-year term upon approval by the metropolitan assembly

Principal powers of the Commission are:

• Provision of recommendations on measures to be taken concerning salaries and other employment conditions
• Establishment of a neutral and fair appointment system (e.g. recruitment exams)
• Review and rendering of judgment on requests concerning staff employment conditions
• Fair review including rulings or decisions on appeals made by employees who were subject to adverse dispositions

Secretariat to Audit and Inspection Commissioners

Divisions

• General Affairs Section
• First, Second and Third Inspection Sections
• Technology Inspection Section

Principal operations

The Secretariat implements audits from perspectives including compliance, economy, efficiency, and effectiveness

Five commissioners (two metropolitan assembly members and three experts) are appointed by the governor upon approval by the metropolitan assembly

They are commissioner entities established under the Local Autonomy Act to ensure fair and efficient administrative and fiscal operations by conducting audits and inspections on implementation of clerical work related to finances and management of businesses

Secretariat to Labor Relations Commission

Divisions

• General Affairs Section
• Trial and Adjustment Section

Principal operations

The Secretariat assists this collegial commission established under the Labor Union Act

The Commission is made up of 39 members, with 13 each from public services, workers, and employers

The main purposes of the commission are:

• Stabilizing and normalizing labor relations such as settling disputes between labor unions and employers concerning labor conditions and union activity rules
• Helping workers subject to unfair labor practices

Secretariat to Expropriation Commission

Divisions

• General Affairs Section
• Trial Section

Principal operations

The Secretariat assists this collegial organization, which is an administrative commission with quasi-judicial functions established under the stipulations of the Compulsory Purchase of Land Act

The Commission promotes public interests and adjusts private assets concerning the use or expropriation of land and other properties necessary for projects in the public interest

The seven committee members, as well as reserve members, are selected among those with abundant experience and knowledge on law, economy, or public administration, who can make fair judgments on public welfare

The members are appointed by the governor to a three-year term upon approval by the metropolitan assembly

Public Safety Commission (Metropolitan Police Department)

Divisions

• Administration Bureau
• Personnel and Training Bureau
• Traffic Bureau
• Security Bureau
• Community Police Affairs Bureau
• Public Security Bureau
• Criminal Investigation Bureau
• Community Safety Bureau
• Organized Crime Control Bureau
• Metropolitan Police Academy
• District Headquarters
• Telecom Fraud Task Force
• Cyber Security Control Task Force

Principal operations

Commissions are established at the national and prefectural level as organizations to manage the police under the Police Act in order to secure their democratic operation and political neutrality

The Commission in Tokyo is an independent collegial commission placed under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Tokyo

Five members are appointed by the governor for a three-year term (reappointment limited to two times)upon approval by the metropolitan assembly

Main powers vested under the Police Act and other laws and ordinances include:

• Traffic control and the issuance, suspension and revocation of driver licenses under the Road Traffic Act
• Issuance, suspension, and revocation of business permits based on laws such as the Secondhand Articles Dealer Act and Pawnbroker Business Act
• Authorization and revocation of security services businesses
• Restraining orders related to stalking statutes
• Designation of organized crime groups and revocation of designation

Legislative Organ

Secretariat to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly

Divisions

• Management Division
• Procedures Division
• Research Division

Principal operations

Supports the activities of the metropolitan assembly by assisting in the operation of plenary sessions and committee meetings

Prepares the minutes of the meetings

Prepares and conducts research for other materials necessary for activities of the assembly

Carries out public relations for the assembly