5. Preparation for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and Tokyo’s evolution

Taking the opportunity presented by the Olympic and Paralympic Games, we will enhance Tokyo’s maturity from various perspectives for the sustainable growth of the city beyond 2020.

Steady preparations for a successful Games

Since taking office, I have been thoroughly checking the appropriateness of the costs of the Games and the transparency of its preparations. Through reduction of construction costs for metropolitan-owned Games venues and other efforts, the view of not only delivering the Games successfully but also fully using its legacy for the sustainable growth of Tokyo came to be broadly shared. I think this is a significant achievement.

In May, the TMG, Organising Committee, national government, and relevant local governments agreed on the basic approach for division of roles and costs for the Games. I have asked the Organising Committee to step up its efforts to increase revenues. In addition, as one way to secure financial resources, Tokyo and the other relevant local governments have recently made a joint request for additional financial assistance from lottery revenues. Also, the TMG, together with the Organising Committee and the national government, set up the joint project management committee, which is tasked with managing costs and controlling project implementation more strictly. This is just one example of how the whole country is rallying together for 2020. We will accelerate concrete preparations for successful delivery of the Games.

The Musashino Forest Sport Plaza, which will host such competitions as badminton and wheelchair basketball, will open in November. I hope it will become a place where the capabilities and skills of the world’s top athletes remain forever carved in the memories of people. We will also work to make this new facility, together with the adjacent Tokyo Stadium, a major regional hub that contributes to the promotion of sports and the development of vibrant communities in the Tama area. A designated administrator for this facility has been proposed to this session of the Assembly. Your deliberation will be highly appreciated.

Although we had an unusual number of rainy days in Tokyo this past summer, addressing the summer heat will be a major challenge for the 2020 Games. We will take measures to mitigate the intense heat, including installing solar heat-blocking pavement on the courses for such events as marathon and race walk. We will also proceed with other preparations including strengthening measures against terrorist attacks -- which are frequently occurring around the world and should not be felt to be something that does not concern us -- as well as increasing provision of information in multiple languages in various parts of Tokyo. With less than three years to go until the Games, such initiatives will be advanced attentively and at an even faster pace.

Building momentum for the Game

We will also further boost the all-Japan spirit of unity for the Games. In particular, we will focus even more efforts on initiatives to introduce the fun of para-sports, such as the Challenge Sports! TOKYO event I recently attended where I was able to try wheelchair badminton and other para-sports first hand.

Creating nationwide solidarity that encompasses the areas that have been affected by natural disasters is also essential. The flag tour, which has already visited areas throughout Tokyo, areas that have endured natural disasters, and cities where Games venues are located, will now proceed to cover the entire country following two north-south routes. As with the recent “Tokyo 2020 3 Years to Go” event, we will continue to raise enthusiasm for the Games by seizing upon important milestones and holding events such as the upcoming “1000 Days to Go” countdown events to be held in October and November.

Today also marks exactly two years until the Rugby World Cup 2019 kicks off. We aim to unite the momentum of both events so that the strong enthusiasm for RWC 2019 will lead to even greater excitement and powerful emotions at the Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held the following year.

The entire TMG will unite to actively promote the Host City Tokyo Project, which aims to deliver a successful Tokyo 2020 Games and generate further growth for Tokyo and Japan. This includes implementing the Tokyo 2020 cultural program (Cultural Olympiad), supporting areas that have been affected by natural disasters and showing the world their recovery, and utilizing cutting-edge technologies. Together with the people of Tokyo and Japan, we will strongly walk the path toward 2020 and the bright future beyond.

Consideration of an ordinance to address passive smoking

We must further promote measures to address passive smoking to fulfill our responsibilities as the host city for the 2020 Games and, more importantly, from the perspective of ensuring the health of the people of Tokyo. As the direction of the central government with regard to enacting legislation on this issue remains uncertain, the TMG recently set forth its basic stance for establishment of an ordinance.

As a general rule, the ordinance will ban smoking inside facilities used by numerous people. Consideration will be given to exempting small eateries and drinking establishments that meet certain specifications. The ordinance will clarify the respective roles to be taken by local governments, Tokyo residents, parents and guardians, and facility managers. Penalties will apply to violations by smokers and facility managers. Under this basic stance, we will advance close examinations of the contents of the ordinance under the firm conviction that we must protect the people, and while widely listening to the opinions of Tokyo residents, we aim to have the ordinance take effect by the start of the Rugby World Cup.

A legacy that demonstrates the city’s maturity

The Tokyo 1964 Games created a legacy that drove rapid economic development, including the development of infrastructure such as the Shinkansen high-speed railway line and metropolitan expressways. I hope to have the legacy of the Tokyo 2020 Games demonstrate Tokyo’s maturity as a city.

To achieve this goal, first, we must work on measures to “hide” infrastructure. Through the ordinance passed at the last meeting of this assembly for the elimination of utility poles, which comes into effect this month, installation of new utility poles along all metropolitan roads is now prohibited. Leveraging this ordinance, we will work with the private sector to advance the elimination of utility poles by supporting municipalities and developing technologies that lead to cost reduction, as well as conducting educational programs in conjunction with “Zero Utility Poles Day,” November 10.

An example of another measure we are advancing that will elevate Tokyo’s value by “hiding” infrastructure is a project to relocate the elevated metropolitan expressway in the Nihombashi area underground. With Tokyo striving to become a pleasant and comfortable, highly mature city, I believe that this project to relocate the portion of the expressway built over the historic Nihombashi Bridge for the first Tokyo Games in 1964, will become a symbol demonstrating Tokyo’s evolution. Taking advantage of the opportunity presented by the need to renew the aging structure, we hope to collaborate with the central government and Metropolitan Expressway Company Limited on the project, integrating it with urban development in the Nihombashi area to leave an elegant cityscape for future generations.

The second area we must address is creation of a society and cityscape that are kind to people with impairments and senior citizens. The Paralympic Games contribute to building a society and city that allow people with impairments and seniors to lead vibrant lives. In addition to measures to eliminate steps around the city, Toei Bus will be the first in Japan to use buses with an aisle that is mostly flat and free of steps, allowing anyone to smoothly move from the front to the back of the bus. The buses will be put into service next year, and we will also promote them outside of Tokyo as a new model for local buses.

The third area we must address is reforming work styles to raise work productivity. With the Tokyo 2020 Games, which will gather people from all over the world, on the horizon, we must advance efforts to reduce crowding on trains. We received support from some 320 companies implementing measures for flexible work hours and teleworking for the “Flex Time Biz” campaign held in July. With cooperation as well from railway operators in forms such as awarding various benefits to customers who commute during off-peak hours and increasing train service during these hours, the “Comfortable Commute Movement” is steadily expanding. This fall, we will recognize companies and organizations that have proactively engaged in these efforts with the “Flex Time Biz Promotion Award” and widely publicize their initiatives. In this way we will continue to encourage “Flex Time Biz” as a concept to raise productivity and establish a “new normal.”

Concerning teleworking, which is also effective in easing congestion during commuting hours, we will conduct seminars where participants can experience teleworking and implement model projects, aiming to spread this practice, especially among small and medium-sized enterprises. At the TMG as well, in addition to designating a monthly “Telework Day” starting this month, we will conduct a trial implementation of flextime to build a system for more flexible work schedules. By having the TMG lead the way in offering a variety of work styles, we hope to spread a highly productive work environment where anyone can work comfortably throughout Tokyo.