5. Tokyo and Japan’s growth must not be stopped.

Entrepreneur Eiichi Shibusawa, who is called the father of Japanese capitalism, helped found the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry and various companies. On top of that, he committed himself to as many as 600 social contribution activities, including serving for half a century as director of a welfare facility operated by then Tokyo Prefecture for impoverished people and orphans. The United Nations is currently pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for a society that “leaves no one behind.” I think we can say that Shibusawa was already undertaking such efforts more than 100 years ago in Tokyo.

Let me share with you his words.
“Wealth is true wealth only when it makes me rich and makes other people rich and thus makes the nation advance and develop.”

If we use this logic, wealth pursued by Tokyo is wealth that makes both Tokyo and the other areas prosper and enables the sustainable development of the entire country. In order to obtain such “true wealth” and make Japan’s entire economy expand, while implementing various innovative approaches to heighten the activities of people, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will compete with other cities of the world and take measures to ensure the co-existence and co-prosperity of Tokyo and other parts of Japan. I request the understanding and cooperation of the Assembly members and Tokyo citizens, and once again, request that the national government take a broad view of the matter in making its decision.

Let me tell you once again.
“Tokyo and Japan’s growth must not be stopped.”

Including the matters to which I have already referred, a total of 36 proposals have been presented to this regular session of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, including one budget bill and 21 proposed ordinances to be deliberated among the Assembly members.

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