4. Aiming to create a Tokyo full of dreams and hopes

A Japan where both urban and rural areas thrive

When it comes to revitalizing local economies, some argue that Tokyo is the sole winner, leaving the rest of Japan behind. However, genuine regional revitalization can only be achieved through the co-prosperity of the urban and rural areas. At July’s meeting of the National Governors’ Association, I presented my view that the issue of revitalizing local economy is part of our need to rethink the entirety of policies taken by Japan since the end of World War II, and argued that urban and rural areas should aim to grow together. Many of the prefectural governors agreed to this idea.

It is important that urban and rural areas collaborate with each other. Recently, the TMG decided to use its renewable energy fund to invest in a wood biomass power generation project in Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture. Also, we are working to attract foreign tourists to not only Tokyo but the entire country. In October, we will launch a program to invite foreign journalists to experience recommended sightseeing routes that link Tokyo and the Tohoku region. If they experience the charms of various areas of Japan and convey them to the world, both Tokyo and the rural areas will be revitalized.

Such specific accomplishments will lead to boosting Japan as a whole. We are now compiling a Tokyo Version of Comprehensive Strategy, which will include a number of urban-rural initiatives to be jointly conducted with other local governments. This will clearly demonstrate the TMG’s stance of coexisting and co-prospering with the rest of Japan.

Under the framework of the National Strategic Special Zones, we are currently proposing the establishment of a special zone for urban agriculture. This has prompted the central government into action; specifically, the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism have made a proposal for tax reform. At the recent Tokyo area special zone meeting, Shigeru Ishiba, the Minister of State for the National Strategic Special Zones, said he hopes to pave the way for this matter. I hope to work hand-in-hand with local governments throughout the country to advance initiatives including such deregulation efforts.

Revenue sources befitting the roles of local governments

As society matures, the roles of local governments grow even larger. Given this, we need to discuss the essential issue of how to expand sources of local tax revenues, which underpin local government administration. However, the central government has shelved this discussion and has resorted to taking stopgap measures in which revenues extracted from urban areas are used to cover the revenue shortage in rural areas. Such an approach will just weaken both areas. The central government’s irrational measures—the interim measure for corporate business tax and the turning of a portion of the corporate inhabitant tax into a national tax—must be repealed immediately. Currently, the central government is considering introducing a corporate version of the “hometown tax” donation system, as well as changing the criteria for dividing corporate tax revenues between prefectures, which will lead to the same problem. We will demand that the central government refrain from implementing more such preposterous actions.

The most important thing is for the central government to ensure that local governments have revenue sources that allow them to fulfill their roles; and by enabling the coexistence and co-prosperity of both urban and rural areas, aim for development of the entire country. We organized such thoughts into a document we recently released. In cooperation with the members of this Assembly, we will join forces with the municipalities in Tokyo and other local governments that share our views to develop our undeviating argument for expanding local tax revenue sources as a whole.

Make Tokyo a city that we can all be proud of

To envision Tokyo in the 2040s, the study panel on Tokyo’s grand design has invited young experts from various fields for very stimulating discussions. In the area of urban development, we are taking concrete steps toward compiling what we are tentatively calling the Grand Design for Urban Development, such as setting up a special research committee to hear experts’ views in the City Planning Council. While steadily advancing the initiatives raised in “The Long-Term Vision for Tokyo,” we hope to clearly envision a bright Tokyo further into the future.

The situation surrounding us is becoming increasingly complex and diverse, as seen in developments such as the global competition among cities, the graying and shrinking of the population, moves for regional revitalization, and efforts to find the direction Japan should take. In such a situation, the role of government is to lay out dreams and hopes for the future. Working closely with you, the members of this Assembly, I aim to make Tokyo the world’s best city by making it a more mature, comfortable city where everyone can enjoy life and boast of its pleasant environment. Your understanding and cooperation would be highly appreciated.

Including the matters to which I have already referred, a total of 30 proposals, including bills on the use of “My Number (social security and tax number)” data and 17 other ordinances, and eight proposed contracts, have been presented to this regular session of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly for deliberation among the Assembly members.

This concludes my policy address to the Assembly. Thank you.