2. Addressing urgent issues

With the large goal of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games looming before us, we are prone to becoming focused on six years from now, but what is important is for us to make Tokyo a city where the residents can feel contented that they were born in Tokyo and spent their lives in Tokyo. We will directly address the serious issues that threaten the lives of our residents, and firmly build safety and security, which constitute the cornerstone of metropolitan administration.

Addressing new dangers

Fighting infectious diseases

The whole world is concerned about the Ebola virus disease epidemic. In Tokyo as well, there were a few patients who were suspected of being infected, but fortunately, they tested negative. However, various issues came to light from the response to this situation. Of the four hospitals in Tokyo that have been designated as capable of accepting patients with Ebola and other class 1 infectious diseases, three are hospitals operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) and the Metropolitan Health and Medical Treatment Corporation. The TMG has responded by launching a liaison council made up of the relevant bureaus and the public health offices, and holding drills for an outbreak.

My experience in responding to the new strain of influenza as the minister of health, labour and welfare, taught me that when we confront danger, information from those working on the frontlines, their experience, and the good ideas that arise from there, are powerful tools in addressing the threat. The TMG, which is directly involved on the ground, will continue to respond to the situation with a sense of urgency, in close collaboration with the national government, the municipalities of Tokyo, and the eight neighboring prefectural and municipal authorities.

Protecting the safety of the Tokyo citizens

With regard to the pressing issue of kiken drugs, because police officers are now allowed to forcibly conduct on-site inspection due to amendment of the ordinance at the last assembly meeting, the Bureau of Social Welfare and Public Health and the Metropolitan Police Department will intensify their cooperation and advance measures to tackle this issue. We will also strengthen our surveillance and guidance system. This includes analyzing the enormous amount of data on the Internet to grasp which shops are selling the drugs, conducting a study on the distribution situation, and requesting Internet service providers to close down sites selling the drugs. We also plan to put more emphasis on educating the public on not getting easily involved with such dangerous drugs.

Another issue is the number of deaths from traffic accidents increasing at a pace that could surpass that of last year. Centering on the Metropolitan Police Department, the TMG is taking priority measures to address the situation, but we also need the particular understanding and cooperation of the Tokyo residents in observing traffic rules and promoting traffic safety so that they do not have or cause accidents.

Accelerating preparations for a disaster

One year has passed since the October 2013 landslide disaster on the island of Oshima, and last month I attended the memorial services. With the pain and suffering of the people of Oshima engraved in our minds, this experience will be used to improve our disaster measures.

We plan to accelerate the implementation of basic surveys conducted for designation of landslide hazard areas and, by moving forward the original plans by two years, complete surveys of the entire Tokyo area by fiscal 2017. In addition, by quickly publicizing the results, we will promote smooth evacuation activities and build an evacuation and warning system.

We will also begin work on formulating the TMG local plan for improving our country's resilience to disasters so that we can protect the residents of Tokyo and other parts of Japan from large-scale natural disasters and prevent the capital from becoming unable to function.

Responding to illegal operations by Chinese fishing boats

Next, I would like to speak about the illegal operations of Chinese fishing boats in the waters around the Ogasawara Islands and Izu Islands.

These activities are not only in violation of our territorial waters and exclusive economic zone, but are significantly damaging the operations of the local fishermen and causing the local residents much anxiety. I repeatedly and strongly demanded improvement of the situation to the Chinese government, and also paid a call on Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga to request that Prime Minister Abe take effective measures. On December 1, along with Metropolitan Assembly President Naoki Takashima and other members of the assembly, I plan to visit Ogasawara to confirm the situation on the ground with my own eyes.

I would like to express my appreciation to the Japan Coast Guard and the Fisheries Agency for their efforts in cracking down on these illegal operations. The TMG is also having its fisheries surveillance and guidance ships conduct monitoring activities, and the police department's riot police and other officers guard the islands. As of yesterday, it has been reported that the Chinese fishing boats have disappeared from the surrounding waters, but we will continue to devote our efforts to protect our precious marine resources and to ensure a safe living environment for our residents.

Policy implementation for better welfare

Achievement of normalization

Now, let me speak about improving our welfare policies.

Recently, I was given the opportunity to have a close talk with Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Sir Philip Craven, who is also disabled, said at that time that Paralympians focus on maximum use of the parts of their body that they can use, rather than being concerned about their disabilities. These were very encouraging words that exemplify the concept of "normalization." Tokyo, which will be hosting the Paralympics as well, must also be transformed into a city where "normalization," the basic principle of social welfare, is a matter of course.

Notably, I believe it important to promote the establishment of a barrier-free mindset. For instance, it would be wonderful if people can muster up the courage to lend a helping hand if they see someone in a wheelchair who needs help. I would like to pour more efforts into building up this trend.

We will also improve the infrastructure so that people with disabilities can live in their communities with peace of mind. We will promote the construction of group homes and other such facilities by expanding subsidies for lump-sum payments for fixed-term leaseholds, and newly supporting the construction of facilities utilizing leased land. We will also provide support anew for the establishment and enlargement of short-term residential facilities through the leasing of existing houses and other buildings, and will boost home-care services.

Addressing the graying population

We will also work actively to tackle the issues of our graying population. Problems are arising in the construction of special nursing homes for the aged, which we are promoting, due to the soaring cost of construction materials on top of the expensive price of land. We will urgently formulate a measure to help address rising construction costs. In addition, we will newly prepare a fund to comprehensively ensure local medical and long-term care. I hope to immediately use a portion of this in programs to promote the development of infrastructure for home health care and to secure health care professionals.

We will also engage in boosting daycare services so that there are no longer any children on the waiting list. In preparation for the start of the new system for child and child-rearing support next year, we will give support for costs such as for renovations necessary by on-site daycare facilities at companies to accept other children in the community and become authorized facilities. Furthermore, in order to secure manpower for child daycare and lower the turnover rate, we will develop a more comfortable work environment by providing support for rental housing for child daycare workers.

Measures for employment

Continuing on, let me speak about our employment measures. As the adage goes, "a man with no regular occupation can have no stability of mind," people can only feel prosperous on a solid foundation of stable employment. I am very concerned about this situation where one-third of the working population is not in regular employment—this is not normal. I will position employment support for non-regular workers who wish for stable employment, as one of our priority policies. Through aggressive actions by the TMG, and by also involving the national government, we will work strongly to advance the switchover from non-regular to regular employment.

Many issues are apparent in the megalopolis of Tokyo. These include the issue of employment of young people, for instance, young people who dropped out of high school and end up as "freeters" (young people who do not hold permanent jobs), and the lack of workers in the welfare sector. In order to address these issues in a comprehensive manner, the Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs, Bureau of Social Welfare and Public Health, Board of Education and other relevant bureaus of the TMG are working together to advance measures through concerted efforts. I also hope to devote further efforts for employment measures, including the creation of opportunities for talks with the national agency, the Tokyo Labor Bureau.