2. Creating a bright future beyond the 2020 Games

An Olympic and Paralympic Games that will change the shape of the city

Accelerate preparations for the Paralympic Games

The Paralympic Games will make Tokyo a more advanced mature city. At last weekend’s meeting of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board, IPC President, Sir Philip Craven, spoke of his high expectations for the Tokyo Games. The Paralympic Games host city needs to build a barrier-free environment that will allow everyone to go about their daily lives with the same ease of access, regardless of whether they have a disability. Only when understanding and consideration toward others have spread, and Tokyo becomes a city that has achieved “normalization,” do I believe our city can claim to be the best in the world.

Along with the central government and the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) is currently reviewing accessibility standards, including standards to ensure that the Games facilities are also easily accessible for people with disabilities. By factoring in details into facility designs such as the placement of wheelchair accessible seating areas, ample aisle space, and floor height that facilitates a clear view of the competition for disabled spectators in wheelchair, we will create an environment that allows everyone to experience the thrill of the event with peace of mind.

We will also promote a barrier-free mindset and improved access to information. The TMG will support the efforts of municipalities to implement universal design educational programs for elementary and middle school students and create barrier free maps, with the aim to expand barrier-free measures throughout Tokyo by 2020. Additionally, we will construct a website within this fiscal year that consolidates information on universal design. In this way, we will take a comprehensive approach to promoting such measures.

Furthermore, I hope to leave as a legacy of the Games a society where both people with and without disabilities can enjoy sports. For instance, I think that a television show featuring disabled star athletes has the potential to broadly convey the appeal of disabled sports. In addition, through focusing efforts on securing facilities, supporting sports federations, and cultivating disabled sports instructors, we will create a strong Paralympic Movement.

Initiatives taken by 2020 will determine Tokyo’s future

The success of the Tokyo 2020 Games is a must to achieving our vision for the city’s future.

Since announcing the venue plan review at last year’s second regular session of the Assembly as a pressing issue to address, we have worked with the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and the committee’s president, Yoshiro Mori, to advance the review process. At the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board Meeting held in February, venue plans for eighteen sports were approved. In addition, at the Executive Board Meeting held last night in Lausanne, Switzerland, of the remaining ten sports, with the exclusion of cycling and football (soccer), plans for eight were approved. With this decision, I think we are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with respect to the review of the overall venue plan. I wish to express my gratitude to everyone involved, including the members of this Assembly, for their understanding and cooperation. Now, I hope to further speed up preparations to make the Games a great success.

Currently, we are studying initiatives from now through the year 2020 with an eye to both tangible and intangible post-Games legacies. Based on discussions with this Assembly as well, we will compile plans within this fiscal year and have them also reflected in the “Action & Legacy Plan” to be drawn up the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee as an All Japan effort with stakeholders including the central government and the TMG. Last week, we set forth our course of direction for post-Games usage of the new event facilities to be built by the TMG. We will now formulate specific plans for the management of sports facilities following the Games, using the innovative method of incorporating private sector knowledge and expertise from the early stages of development.

Public safety and security, including counterterrorism measures, are of the utmost priority in hosting the Games. Within the Legacy Committee, we will establish a Public Safety and Security Subcommittee to study security from various standpoints such as measures for public safety, cyber security, disaster response, and infectious diseases. As we identify various issues to be addressed, we will also strengthen cooperation with the central government and organising committee.

In addition, as the Olympic and Paralympic Games cannot be a success without the participation of a great number of people who believe that these Games are their own, it is essential that we firmly establish a volunteer culture in Tokyo. Starting next weekend, we will launch a new volunteer guide program beginning from the areas around Shinjuku and Ueno stations. Volunteer guides will approach international tourists and offer assistance and sightseeing information in foreign languages. I look forward to the sight of the uniformed guides assisting tourists further raising enthusiasm toward volunteering in Tokyo.

With just over a year to go, the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Games are quickly approaching. Following the 2016 Games, the eyes of the world will converge on the Tokyo 2020 Games, and the Olympic cultural program, a grand festival of culture, will also begin. Through “leading projects,” which are to be implemented by the TMG ahead of the Olympic cultural program, I hope to unfold a world of free and diverse forms of expression. These include programs that allow participants to experience traditional culture; the Tokyo Caravan project, which will bring together artists from a variety of genres; and art programs for the disabled. In Rio de Janeiro as well, I plan to strongly promote Tokyo as the next host city, and stir up momentum for the 2020 Games.

I will now speak about the reconstruction of the National Stadium. Last month, I received a request for cooperation from Hakubun Shimomura, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. This was when I was first informed of the various circumstances concerning the new National Stadium project that had not yet been revealed, including issues related to the planned retractable roof, seating, and construction costs. I don’t think that I was the only one taken aback by these issues. I think the entire nation was shocked. This facility is the main venue for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. If the central government does not keep this important fact in mind and approach the construction of this facility with a sense of urgency, they will betray the expectations of Japan and the world. As the governor of the host city, I cannot turn a blind eye to this situation.

As long as the National Stadium is a “national” stadium operated by the central government, the cost of reconstruction of that facility should, as a rule, be funded by the central government. If the central government is going to request financial support from the TMG, it is only natural that they should provide an explanation of how it will benefit the citizens of Tokyo. I believe the central government must ensure transparency and build public acceptance on this issue from an unbiased stance. Although time is limited, if the central government will firmly deal with this matter, I want the TMG to cooperate to the fullest extent possible.

Ensuring safety and security

I believe the main pillars of Tokyo’s grand design are safety and security, addressing a super-aging society, and creating a functional city. Of these, priority must be given to safety and security to protect lives and assets.

Addressing crises

The recent Nepal earthquake caused extensive damage, and teams from the Metropolitan Police Department and the Tokyo Fire Department were sent to conduct rescue operations. In Tokyo as well, a magnitude 8-plus earthquake occurred off the Ogasawara Islands. It is predicted that there is a 70 percent possibility of an earthquake directly hitting Tokyo within the next 30 years. Areas with close-set wooden houses, in particular, are Tokyo’s biggest weakness in terms of disaster control. Currently, we are surging ahead with measures to address the problem such as designating “development districts” and constructing “designated routes for improvement.” There are now as many as 52 “development districts.” But obstacles still remain, such as the presence of narrow alleys and the little progress made in rebuilding structures on small plots. In light of such circumstances, the TMG will revise its Urban Development Plan for Disaster Resistance by the end of fiscal 2015 to incorporate new measures capitalizing on the city planning system, and outline a path to transform areas in Tokyo into safe urban spaces.

To raise the “self-help” ability of each and every resident of Tokyo, we have launched a project to encourage households to store emergency supplies. We will try to change people’s perception of emergency stockpiles by advocating the idea of “daily stockpiles”—keeping extra supplies of usual food and other daily items, rather than buying something special for emergencies. Also, we will make November 19 the Emergency Stockpile Day to raise public awareness of such needs.

To better prepare for torrential rains, we are rapidly proceeding with the primary survey of areas at risk of sediment disasters. A survey of the entire area of Oshima Town, which was severely damaged by a strong typhoon in 2013, was recently completed. For Hachioji City, which has the largest number of high-risk areas in Tokyo, the results of some parts of the city where studies had been completed were released. At the end of last month, the TMG and Hachioji City jointly conducted a drill for wind and flood disasters. We will complete and publish the results of primary surveys of all areas of Tokyo by fiscal 2017 to build a warning and evacuation system.

In our efforts to prevent infectious diseases, as summer approaches we are strengthening measures against dengue fever. This year, we launched surveys of this virus in mosquitoes two months earlier than usual, and conducted surveys over a more expansive area. We will release a map showing sites posing a high risk of infection on our website. This will be the first such program in this country. As for the MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) virus spreading in South Korea, in collaboration with the central government we will take full precautions against an outbreak of the disease in Tokyo.

Creating a safe and secure city

In recent years, the daily lives of Tokyo citizens have been threatened by kiken drugs (new psychoactive substances), scams targeting senior citizens and other specialized scams, and crimes targeting the weak, such as child abductions.

A proposal to amend the metropolitan ordinance for safe and secure community development has been presented to this regular session of the Assembly to address urgent issues such as ensuring safety on routes to and from school, as well as eradication of kiken drugs and specialized scams. To ensure safety on routes to and from school, we are adding provisions to facilitate collaborative efforts by the police, school and local community. If community bonds can be leveraged to have active seniors watch over children going to and from school, it could also raise the sense of discipline of children and renew community strength. To address kiken drugs and specialized scams, we are adding provisions that prevent office or residential property in Tokyo from being rented to those who would turn the space into a hotbed for crime. We will also work on these problems in cooperation with real estate industry groups with whom the TMG signed an agreement last month.

In Tokyo, the number of deaths from traffic accidents is on the rise, and the Metropolitan Police Department and other relevant TMG bureaus are reinforcing preventive measures. We also plan to revise the Traffic Safety Plan by the end of this fiscal year to reflect changes in traffic conditions. Studies will also take into consideration the arrival of a super-aging society and the progress of information and communications technology, and measures will be advanced as a TMG-wide effort.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office is a city hall open to the public and, at the same time, the headquarters housing the core of metropolitan administration. If this building becomes the target of a terrorist attack, the city’s function as the capital will be paralyzed, spreading chaos to the rest of the country as well. We wish to heighten the security of the TMG building while striking a balance with its role to provide services to residents. The understanding and cooperation of the citizens of Tokyo shall be highly appreciated.

Living in a mature, super-aging society

At the end of fiscal 2014, the TMG formulated a new version of the Plan for Welfare and Health of Senior Citizens, which sets out the basic policy on welfare measures for senior citizens in Tokyo. The new plan, for the first time, includes medium-to-long term estimates, focusing on 2025 when the baby boomers will be over 75 years old. For example, the number of seniors requiring long-term care is projected to rise by 200,000 within the next 10 years, and we will need to increase the number of long-term care workers by 100,000. We will implement policies befitting a mature city, including developing the infrastructure for long-term care services.

In large cities, the biggest hurdle for establishing facilities is securing land. In fiscal 2014, we launched a new scheme to offer metropolitan-owned land at lower rents to those opening welfare facilities there. Recently, it was decided to lease land in Kita Ward under this scheme to a child day care service provider. Also, just last week, we decided to lease land to a company that will build a child day care center, senior residence, and other facilities at the former site of the Bureau of Transportation’s employee dormitory in Yoga. This is the first case for land set aside for a public enterprise to be used to develop welfare infrastructure. We will continue to work aggressively for the effective use of metropolitan-owned land.

We will also support efforts to create systems that will enable seniors to continue living in their communities with a sense of reassurance. We will leverage the knowledge and expertise of rehabilitation professionals to build community capabilities that will help seniors ward off needs for long-term care. Also, measures will be taken to build a network of providers of living support services, such as watching over the elderly and helping them with shopping or going out, and to raise coordinators who can tailor such services to individual needs. The TMG will also put forth efforts to create environments where the elderly can play valuable roles in their communities by, for example, extending support to municipalities that encourage active seniors to be engaged in community services.

Creating a functional, attractive city

Promotion of transportation strategies

We will also promote the creation of a functional and very attractive city. Transportation, which supports urban activities, must be transformed to be more user-oriented. For example, to make it easier to transfer between lines at Shinjuku Station, the TMG has launched a council with relevant transportation and facility operators to work on improving signage and creating a more barrier-free environment. Also, to help people enjoy cycling in Tokyo safely, we have designated recommended cycling routes in seven districts around planned venues for the 2020 Games, as well as popular tourist spots. Bike-friendly spaces will be created on national, metropolitan, and municipal roads totaling approximately 200 kilometers. The TMG is also working to stimulate the use of water transportation through measures such as opening the Ryogoku disaster management wharf on the Sumida River to private boats. To expand such efforts to other parts of Tokyo while continuing such specific measures, next month we will launch a promotion council made up of outside experts, transportation operators, and others, to study the effective implementation of our transportation strategies.

Urban functions are significantly enhanced by the three ring expressways. A survey conducted one month after the Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway Central Circular Route fully opened to traffic shows that travel time between the Shinjuku district and Haneda Airport was reduced from 40 minutes to 19 minutes and that the time lost through congestion on roads in the area inside the circular route was halved, alleviating traffic jams in surrounding areas as well. The opening of the expressway also reduced large vehicular traffic on streets running parallel to it, making the streets safer for pedestrians. As for the Tokyo Outer Ring Road (Gaikan), we are strongly urging the national government to have the sections under construction in service by the 2020 Games. We will proceed with our efforts to make Tokyo the world’s first metropolis without traffic congestion. The TMG will also continue working to improve access to Haneda Airport, as well as the functionality of Tokyo’s gateway to the skies, and enhance the overall strength of the city.

We will also incorporate a new method of transportation in Tokyo’s transportation system. We recently compiled a basic plan for bus rapid transit (BRT) services to connect the city center and the waterfront area—the location for the Olympic Village and many venues for the 2020 Games. Based on the plan, we will invite bids from companies interested in operating the BRT service. We will draw up the project plan by the end of this fiscal year. This will lay out plans for putting cutting-edge technology into practical use such as introducing fuel cell buses and creating a system for making buses stop precisely at bus stations. We hope to publicize Tokyo’s BRT service around the world as a public transport system that is symbolic to the 2020 Games, and as a showcase of Japan’s proud technological capabilities.

Creating a dynamic city

Following the success of the Games, an area that will undergo major changes is the Jingu Gaien District. This district is a mecca for sports, and with its distinctive integration of city and nature, as represented by the street lined with Gingko trees, it is also loved by many Tokyo residents as an oasis in the city center. While preserving the rich greenery, we will transform the area into a major center for sports, complete with commercial and cultural facilities in addition to the reconstructed baseball and rugby stadiums, and pass this on to the next generations. So that redevelopment can start immediately after the 2020 Games, we will begin discussions with the six parties with whom we have already signed basic agreements, including Meiji Jingu Shrine.

We will also begin an urban renewal project in the area around Ikebukuro Station. Recently, we filed an application with the central government to have the area designated as a Special Priority Development Area for Urban Renaissance with the aim of strengthening Tokyo’s overall international competitiveness. We will use special measures made possible through its designation as a priority development area to expand pedestrian-friendly spaces and further promote the elimination of districts with close-set wooden houses. We will also use these measures to promote the generation of new vitality through area management programs and the creation of a hub for art and culture.

In order to back such urban renewal activities from a tax perspective as well, at this session of the assembly, I am proposing a special tax measure under the Wagamachi Tokurei system* as an amendment to the Tokyo Metropolitan Tax Ordinance to be deliberated among the Assembly members. (*The Wagamachi Tokurei system allows local governments to decide on the special usage of local taxes.)

Making Tokyo a more attractive city

The TMG is also making tangible progress with respect to diversifying metropolitan park use. As the first step, we are looking to attract restaurants and cafés to Komazawa Olympic Park, a legacy of the 1964 Games, to offer park visitors places to enjoy meals. We are now inviting applications from companies to operate these restaurants. We will add new ways to enjoy parks and create even more vibrancy. As these parks are located in a city with a range of lifestyles, I believe that there are a variety of ways to use them. If we introduce welfare facilities such as daycare facilities for children and seniors, while also preserving the greenery of parks, this will also lead to overcoming the hurdle that I spoke of earlier with regard to securing land in the metropolis. We will work to fully bring out the potential of metropolitan parks.

In the Marunouchi and Nihombashi districts, activities to create pedestrian-friendly urban spaces that are spacious and attractive have been launched. At the end of last month, we started the implementation of traffic restrictions on Naka-dori street in Nihombashi Muromachi on a trial basis, and aim to do so as well on Marunouchi’s Naka-dori street in the summer. We will examine the impact on the local area, including commercial activities such as the collection and delivery of packages, and if no particular disruptions emerge as a result of these restrictions, we will implement them year-round. I hope to increase the number of areas where people can enjoy strolling around the city with a sense of reassurance by studying the expansion of the program into surrounding areas such as the Hibiya district as well, and make Tokyo an even more attractive city.