3. Opening up a bright future with the action plan and budget

The action plan for 2020: charting the course to the future

We aim to realize the “New Tokyo” under a renewed metropolitan government that has a different constitution and way of doing things. The action plan for 2020, my first comprehensive plan as governor, will serve as a concrete guide to achieving this goal. The plan clarifies the path to realizing the three new faces of the city -- a safe city, diverse city, and smart city -- and raises four challenges to address and five strategies to take to generate even greater growth for Tokyo. We will steadily achieve the over 500 important policy targets by following the concrete processes outlined, and push forward on the path to the future with the support of the people of Tokyo behind us.

The possibilities before us are endless. The action plan also shows a glimpse of our vision for Tokyo’s bright future “Beyond 2020.” I hope to expand upon this dream and boldly envision the Tokyo to come. Last month, we held a meeting to discuss the vision for the future. I was greatly inspired by the wealth of ideas coming from the participants who ranged from high school students to those in their mid-40s who are active in various fields. As a politician who bears responsibility for what lies ahead for Tokyo, I will have an extensive conversation with the younger generations and boldly carve open the future.

Fiscal 2017 budget proposal

The proposed fiscal 2017 budget -- the first I have compiled as governor -- which will be deliberated by this Assembly is what will support the feasibility of the action plan for 2020. Metropolitan tax revenue is easily affected by the economy, and global economic trends are unclear, but the financial needs of the TMG are enormous for purposes such as social insurance and maintenance and renewal of infrastructure.

Amid demands for wise spending, I spent twice the time normally allocated to assessing the budget to ensure that we aggressively invest in what is truly necessary to realize the “New Tokyo,” and to thoroughly eliminate wasteful spending. As a result, this proposed budget is one full of worthy purpose, incorporating 382 new programs -- the most ever -- including measures to eliminate both social and physical barriers, namely, gender and education inequality and physical barriers, such as steps, in the city. At the same time, by compiling a well-modulated budget through careful assessment of our projects and programs, we strived to further advance fiscal structural reform and reduced the general account budget for the first time in five years to 6.954 trillion yen. We can truly consider this “a budget that strongly advances reform and sets a steady course toward a bright future.”

This budget proposal is filled with my passion for the future of Tokyo and measures that I have been cultivating for some time. As you deliberate the proposal, I look forward to engaging in discussions with you, the members of this Assembly, about creating the future. And, I will do my utmost to have the people of Tokyo gain a solid sense of hope for the future, brought about by a metropolitan administration that puts the Tokyo citizens first.