IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition 2018

From Sunday, September 16 to Friday, September 21, the International Water Association (IWA) World Water Congress & Exhibition was held in Tokyo. Governor Koike gave greetings at the Opening Ceremony and a keynote address.
This was the first time for this Congress to be held in Japan. Industry, academic, and government experts in the field of water gathered together to share new know-how and advanced technology for solving the world’s water issues.

With Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Japan in attendance, Governor Koike gave her greetings at the Opening Ceremony on Sunday, September 16.

In her keynote address the following day, the governor said, “Climate change and other global-scale challenges loom before us. It is important that country and city leaders and experts engage in discussions that go beyond national borders.” She also mentioned that Tokyo will cooperate with Paris and Los Angeles, the respective hosts of the 2024 and 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, for a sustainable games.

She mentioned that at the Tokyo Forum for Clean City and Clear Sky which was held this past May, leaders shared policies and know-how on realizing a sustainable urban environment and discussed solutions. The governor then said, “At this congress, I hope to discuss global-scale water challenges and work with all of you to push forward initiatives that will help solve them.”

Governor Koike then explained that safe and delicious high quality water can be drunk directly from the tap, introducing this as one of the attractions that Tokyo is proud of. She also spoke about topics including “rapid urbanization in the world and the importance of the water cycle,” “risks threatening the urban water cycle,” and “a vision toward building an urban water environment from Tokyo.” She concluded her speech saying, “In order to help solve the water challenges of cities, we hope to take the opportunity presented by this congress to broadly promote Tokyo’s initiatives that look to the future, and contribute to making the world’s cities more sustainable.”

Later, Governor Koike gave an address at the exhibition hall during the Opening Ceremony for the Japan Pavilion. She said, “There are about 250 organizations from Japan and overseas here and 91 organizations at the Japan Pavilion,” “Many technologies that Japan is proud of are on exhibit,” and “I hope the participants will build networks to create business opportunities leading to future growth. I have high hopes that the success of this exhibition will serve as a trigger to driving and energizing the important water industry.”

On Tuesday, September 18, Governor Koike gave greetings at the Cultural Event held at the Taisho Kinenkan Hall of the Kiyosumi Gardens and participated in a ceremony to break open the sake barrel, kagamibiraki, with guests.