In opening the third regular session of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly in 2014, I wish to relate my basic stance on future metropolitan administration, and seek the understanding and cooperation of the members of this Assembly and the people of Tokyo.

First, I would like to speak about dengue fever. In cooperation with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, relevant local governments, and others, Tokyo is currently taking steps to exterminate mosquitoes, the transmitters of the virus, and control outbreaks, while also strengthening inspections using mosquito traps. Last week, I met with Minister Shiozaki of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and confirmed that the central government will continue to work with Tokyo to address this problem. Dengue fever is not a virus directly transmitted human-to-human, and has a relatively good prognosis. As such, I would like to ask the people of Tokyo and Japan to remain calm.

But today, the risk of infectious diseases is on the rise even in our country, as the world becomes increasingly borderless with the active movement of people and goods, and adding to this, the progression of global warming. Looking ahead to the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, together with the central government and others, we have launched a council made up of experts, medical professionals, and staff from public health offices on the frontlines. Targeting infectious diseases spread by mosquitoes, the council will review the handling of the dengue fever outbreak and conduct epidemiological analysis to strengthen measures against infectious diseases.

For the title of Tokyo Honorary Citizen, we have selected Mr. Shigeo Nagashima, Mr. Kunitami Mitsuhashi, and Mr. Yoji Yamada as candidates this time.

Mr. Shigeo Nagashima, known as “Mr. Baseball,” is a national star loved by all. He has devoted his life to the development of the sport of baseball, including leading the Japanese national team to the 2004 Athens Olympics as the team manager, and he has given hope and vitality to many.

Mr. Kunitami Mitsuhashi survived fierce fighting and starvation in New Guinea during World War II. Along with expressing themes such as his prayers for the repose of the souls of his comrades and peace through figurative art, Mr. Mitsuhashi has also given lectures on his desire for peace to the generation that has not experienced war.

As a leading Japanese movie director, Mr. Yoji Yamada has enthralled audiences with works that focus on human drama, including the Otoko wa Tsurai yo (It’s Tough Being a Man) series. Through his works, he has also continued to introduce a wide audience of Tokyo residents and others throughout Japan to his perception of Tokyo as a warm home to return to.

These three candidates are highly worthy of the respect and admiration of Tokyo residents. With the approval of this Assembly, I would like to confer on them the title of Tokyo Honorary Citizen next month. Your cooperation would be highly appreciated.

1 Toward 2020 and the bright future beyond

Long-term vision for Tokyo interim report

We have recently compiled the interim report for our long-term vision. This defines the future for Tokyo in 2020—the year we will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games—as well as 10 years from now in 2024. In order to establish accountability in our work toward realizing Tokyo’s future as the best city in the world, policy targets have been determined to show the effects on society and Tokyo residents, as well as the future situation. The plan also sets numerical targets and the target year wherever possible. Based on debate by this Assembly, and by also incorporating the opinions of Tokyo residents and the municipalities, we will finalize the vision by the end of the year, and also announce a three-year plan for its implementation.

I hope to take a proactive approach with respect to the fiscal 2015 budget, which will provide the financial backing for the vision. If we aimlessly follow the old way of doing things and leave policies in place that are incompatible with the times, finances will become rigid, and it will become very difficult to meet the changing needs of Tokyo residents. As such, we have adopted a system that provides incentives. If a bureau takes on a review of its existing programs and was able to reduce the budget, we will allow the bureau to submit budget requests up to twice that amount for new programs. In order to speed up the pace of metropolitan government operations, I also hope to use of the approach of adopting a supplementary budget.

The new shape of metropolitan administration

In these rapidly changing times, we cannot enrich the lives of Tokyo residents by “simply going through the motions.” I believe that society and the economy can only be invigorated if politicians, who stand at the helm of the government, can, without fear of change, correctly distinguish between following bad precedent and implementing meaningful policy. By wiping out fixed perceptions within the government and easing regulations, we can utilize the talent and wealth that converge in Tokyo, and bring out the strengths of communities and companies. We will implement new policies along this line. When we do so, business opportunities will also emerge and new wealth will be created, which can then be effectively used toward the enhancement of disaster preparedness, public safety, welfare and health care, and education, raising the quality of the lives of Tokyo residents. Moreover, having this newly generated wealth also contribute to the advancement of areas outside of Tokyo will lead to the development of all of Japan. This is the new shape of metropolitan administration that we will create.

50 years since the 1964 Games

On October 10, 1964, under a clear autumn sky with the Olympic March playing to welcome the entrance of each nation’s delegation of athletes, on that day, people felt the arrival of a new era in the bright future projected by the Olympics.

As if guided by that vision for the future, affluence spread across Japan, and our country rose to the point of inspiring books such as Japan As Number One by Ezra Vogel. However, during the decline that followed, known as the “lost two decades,” the stagnation and deflation of the economy disheartened the Japanese people and we lost our confidence and pride. The 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games are what will change this course.

First, as we head toward the target year of 2020, we must accelerate the development of Tokyo. However, 2020 is not our final goal. We must make the Games a springboard to a bright future beyond 2020. The role of politicians is to set high ideals and give dreams and hope to the people. Now, at this 50-year milestone of the last Games held in Tokyo, I have renewed my determination to fulfill this role.