4. Games legacy that will make Tokyo a more mature city

Taking the opportunity of the Tokyo 2020 Games, we will accelerate specific efforts to build a legacy of the Games for the sustainable growth of Tokyo and to make it an even more mature city.

Promoting work-style reform and alleviating traffic congestion

We will further advance our work-style reform initiatives, such as promoting staggered commuting hours through the “Jisa Biz” campaign and encouraging teleworking, and turn them into social movement so that we can raise productivity, which is key to Tokyo’s growth, and enable many various people to work actively. These initiatives will also help ease traffic congestion during the Games. In October, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and seven financial institutions and associations in Tokyo, signed a partnership agreement for promoting work-style reform. Last week, we jointly held a seminar for businesses in Tokyo to promote teleworking. In close cooperation with financial institutions that support small- and medium-sized enterprises, the TMG will work to increase the number of companies that support the idea of work-style reform.

Currently, about 900 companies are taking part in the “Jisa Biz” campaign. Last week, we presented awards to companies that have taken excellent initiatives. The first winter round of Jisa Biz will start late next month. We will work to achieve our goal for this fiscal year of increasing the number of participating companies to 1,000, and to make Jisa Biz the new normal.

To ease traffic congestion during the Games, we released in October a set of maps that show the impact the event will have on roads and railway lines if no measures are taken at all. The next step will be having companies and other parties make specific preparations for advancing traffic demand management to reduce and disperse traffic. To accelerate this movement, we started holding seminars and consultation sessions last week. To smoothly deliver the Games and sustain economic activities at the same time, we will continue to take detailed measures and work together with the members of the National Capital Region Nine Government Summit Council to broadly call out to people and entities for cooperation on this matter.

Accommodations convenient for everyone

To prepare for the Games and for further aging of the population after that, we will take new initiatives to create, together with the private sector, an environment where lodgings are convenient for all.

First, to make it easier for wheelchair users and many other people to use guest rooms, we wish to establish what would the first ordinance in Japan to stipulate barrier-free standards for regular guest rooms at accommodation facilities that will be newly built or extended. Based on the opinions submitted during the recent public comment period, we will work out the details with the aim of presenting the bill to the first session of the Assembly.

Also, in the Facilities Development Manual Based on the Ordinance to Promote Barrier-Free Urban Planning we will include specifications for guest rooms made accessible to senior citizens and people with visual or hearing impairments. We will also consider expanding the subsidy program for hotel operators and work to build momentum by holding seminars and other means. To realize OPEN STAY TOKYO, where everyone can find lodgings comfortable for them, we will implement a range of policies, including promoting efforts to visualize information on accessible guest rooms.

Volunteers: The face of host city Tokyo

The support of Games Volunteers and City Volunteers will be essential for the success of the Games. For both types of volunteers, applications will be accepted until December 21. We have been receiving applications from a broad range of generations, and the number of applicants for City Volunteers surpassed 20,000 today. I hope many more people will come forward. I believe that being a key player of the Games, as are the athletes, and being part of the event as the face of host city Tokyo, will leave a significant legacy in the minds of each volunteer as well. Together with the volunteers, we will do our utmost to ensure that people from around the world enjoy Tokyo’s hospitality, that athletes can deliver record-setting performances, and that the Games will leave great memories for everyone.

Various measures for promoting para sports

In the Asian Para Games held in Indonesia in October, Japanese athletes competed very strongly, achieving the best-ever medal count for Japan. I would like to express my deep respect for the athletes, and I hope they will further hone their skills in the run-up to 2020.

Late this month, we will hold an experiential sports event, “Challe-Spo! TOKYO,” which allows participants to enjoy all 22 Paralympic sports. New programs will be incorporated, including one that uses virtual reality to give participants a dynamic sporting experience. I hope many Tokyo citizens will come and see how fun it is to play and watch para sports.

Last month, we started a program in which coaches, physical therapists, and other people who support para athletes are recognized as Tokyo Para Sports Staff. This aims to improve the environment for them and enhance the competitiveness of athletes. As a mature city that will be the first city to host its second summer Paralympic Games, Tokyo will continue to take various measures to further promote para sports.

Tokyo 2020 as a festival of culture

During my recent visit to Paris, Mayor Anne Hidalgo and I agreed that our two cities will strengthen cooperation for the success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which both cities are now preparing to host, as well as in various areas including the environment, culture, and tourism. I was also able to broadly showcase the wonderful aspects of Tokyo’s culture. For example, an event was held in front of Paris City Hall featuring furoshiki, the traditional wrapping cloth that combines art and eco-consciousness. I think my visit helped to further raise interest in Tokyo, which is already attracting attention in the run-up to 2020.

Last month at Haneda Airport, a crossroads of people and cultures from around the world, we held a promotional event to give a further boost to Tokyo Tokyo FESTIVAL, the cultural program for the Games. We will continue to step up our efforts to promote this program to people in Japan and throughout the world, and expand our collaboration with cultural projects undertaken by municipalities in Tokyo to build up momentum for the Games through the power of culture as well.

Building momentum for Rugby World Cup 2019^TM

In the run-up to Rugby World Cup 2019^TM, a test match was recently held between Japan and New Zealand, a team labeled the world’s strongest. Japan put up a good fight, thrilling the crowd at Ajinomoto Stadium and rugby fans at the public viewing event in the Yurakucho district. Various promotional activities are taking place in many parts of Tokyo, and we will further build up expectations throughout Tokyo for exciting matches between the world’s top teams at the World Cup, which is now just 290 days away.