Advancing three initiatives

To translate this basic policy into specific actions of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, I instructed the vice governors and the director generals of the relevant bureaus to advance three initiatives.

First, early relocation of the market to Toyosu. This is top priority. Second, advance preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The construction of Ring Road No. 2 and the transportation hub will be steadily implemented. Third, redevelopment of Tsukiji Market. We will start working toward redevelopment that leverages Tsukiji’s appeal to the fullest. In July, the specific measures that should be taken to advance these three initiatives were set out at a meeting of the vice governors and the director generals of the relevant bureaus. Currently, these measures are being implemented in a TMG-wide effort.

Early relocation of the market to Toyosu

Let me speak about the details of the three initiatives.

First, the early relocation to Toyosu.

Toyosu Market will be continuously operated as a central wholesale market. Also, we will work to have the market develop further by taking advantage of its convenient location as a logistics center in the waterfront area.

Ensuring the safety of Toyosu Market is our biggest challenge. We were aiming to remove the soil that was contaminated due to previous operations at this site in order to keep the contamination levels of soil and groundwater within the environmental standards. This endeavor to “detoxify the site” was called for in the supplementary resolution approved by the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly. The TMG has been respecting this resolution and has taken unprecedented levels of soil decontamination measures. However, this goal has not been achieved. I offered my apologies for having failed to keep our promise to the Tokyo citizens at the latest regular session of this Assembly, and after that, I directly apologized to business operators at Tsukiji Market. We must deeply reflect on why we failed to keep the promise.

The Expert Council, on the other hand, has judged Toyosu Market to be both legally and technically safe, citing that measures based on the Soil Contamination Countermeasures Act were taken appropriately. The council also made a proposal for future risk control through implementing additional construction works in the underground spaces, enhancing the functions of the groundwater management system, and continuing to release the results of environmental surveys. Reflecting on what has happened so far, we will steadily implement these measures and, by doing so, ensure the safety and security of operations at Toyosu Market.

As for the additional construction works, the environmental impact assessment panel, when it met this morning, reported that another round of assessment procedures is not necessary.

To restore the damaged reputation of Toyosu, in addition to bolstering our efforts to provide detailed explanation of past soil decontamination measures and convey accurate information based on surveys of air and groundwater quality, we will offer tours of the Toyosu facilities and take other effective steps, to gain the understanding of the members of the Assembly, Tokyo citizens, and business operators at Tsukiji and assure them of the safety of the new market.

Regarding the issue of the market account sustainability due to the construction and opening of Toyosu Market, we will work to resolve this. We will steadily repay the public enterprise bonds issued to build the new market and formulate specific plans to improve the market’s profitability, such as reducing costs and securing income.

Concerning the usability of Toyosu Market, we received requests from Tsukiji business operators, and the Food Market Project Team also gave their views. In response to these, we will make necessary improvements.

As we need the approval of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister before opening the new market, I visited the minister myself to report on the initiatives taken by the TMG and asked for cooperation. As such, we are steadily taking steps necessary for relocating the market to Toyosu.

As for when to actually relocate the market to Toyosu, once this supplementary budget bill is passed, we will promptly initiate procedures for signing a contract and start the additional construction works. After the works are complete, the Expert Council will check the results. Currently, we estimate that work will be completed by early June of next year. This means the market relocation will take place after that. We will give the Tsukiji business operators a detailed explanation of the supplementary budget, additional works, and other relevant matters, and work without delay on coordinating activities to decide on when to relocate the market.

For Toyosu Market to thrive, it is essential to create the area’s own vibrancy in cooperation with the operator of “Senkyaku Banrai” shopping and entertainment complex to be built in Toyosu, business operators at the market, and the local ward. We will give a sincere explanation to the company scheduled to operate Senkyaku Banrai about the initiatives taken by the TMG. We will also endeavor to gain understanding on Toyosu Market by the local residents and earnestly hear their opinions.

Advancing preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games

Continuing, I would like to speak about the second initiative I had instructed the TMG senior officials to advance: advancing preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In the lead-up to the Games, we will firmly take steps to prevent any disruption to the operation of the Games. We aim to complete construction of Ring Road No. 2 temporarily as an aboveground road by the end of fiscal 2019, and also steadily advance the development of the transportation hub at the former site of Tsukiji Market.

I recently met with the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and we confirmed our commitment to cooperate in areas such as ensuring smooth transportation during the Games and making enhancements for barrier-free design in order to host a successful Games.

Redevelopment that leverages Tsukiji’s appeal to the fullest

And now, the third initiative: the redevelopment of Tsukiji Market.
Continuing to leverage the Tsukiji brand, which was built through the ceaseless efforts of those operating businesses at the wholesale market and the many other people credited with Tokyo’s food culture, as well as the Tsukiji area’s potential, I hope to further enhance the appeal of Tokyo. To do so, the TMG will review the matter from the perspective of public finances, and while ensuring economic rationality, will advance studies with the intent to redevelop Tsukiji as a private sector-led project.

In light of such changes, after relocating the market to Toyosu, I would like to examine various measures to respond to everyone’s concerns, including that of wholesalers who wish to return to Tsukiji in the future, while taking into consideration the situation following relocation.

With respect to the specific schedule for redevelopment, we aim to start construction as early as possible within the next five years after following each of the steps required after formulation of the urban development policy, including preparing the basic and detailed design, undertaking city planning procedures, conducting soil and buried cultural asset surveys, and undertaking environmental impact assessment procedures. As the very first step of this process, I would like to establish a council to study the redevelopment of Tsukiji, and paint an ambitious vision that fully leverages Tsukiji’s location from the standpoint of urban development.