2. Propel “investment in the future” for Tokyo’s maturity and ongoing growth

Formulate a vision for long-term strategy and a new vision for metropolitan government reform

Tokyo’s growth and maturity will happen by widely advancing investment in the future such as making Tokyo a city with high earning power and implementing measures to connect people, in addition to bolstering urban strength centering on response to disasters and climate change. Our long-term strategic vision will be released at the end of this year to clarify our course of action. In August we presented our vision for the future and the challenges we need to overcome to achieve that vision as discussion points for realizing “Future Tokyo.” Recently, we brought together Tokyo’s insights for the formulation of the long-term strategic vision by soliciting comments from Tokyo’s citizens and exchanging opinions with local municipalities, universities, and a variety of organizations. We have also received many drawings of a yet unseen Tokyo overflowing with dreams from our children who will forge the future. We will continue to advance flexible and bold studies based on these suggestions for the formulation of our long-term strategy, which will become the compass pointing to Tokyo’s bright future where the citizens come first.

In this era of intense change, we must also continuously generate new ideas that think out of the box, and in order to build the Tokyo we are pursuing, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government itself must undergo a massive transformation. The TMG has been promoting the Reform Plan for 2020 to increase productivity and enhance functionality, and the staff are also gaining a mindset for reform. Carrying on with these accomplishments, I will advance further reform for a metropolitan government that can underpin strategic policy development. A new vision for metropolitan government reform that will guide us will also be released at the end of this year.

Tokyo Data Highway is essential to Tokyo’s growth and maturity

One of the foundations for creating the future Tokyo based on these visions is a super high-speed internet system. This first year of a new Reiwa era in Japan is also globally known as the first year of 5G. As 5G, the next-generation telecommunications standard, spreads throughout the United States, South Korea, and other countries of the world, Tokyo must accelerate its growth by leading the world in the 5G network race and creating new value. A 5G network will also contribute to the establishment of an even more mature society where no one is left behind wherever they are, such as by making remote medicine possible. By achieving Society 5.0, the Japanese government initiative that aims to use advanced technology for economic growth and to solve social problems as the population declines and grays even more, the Tokyo Data Highway is indeed fundamental infrastructure for Tokyo as it pursues a balance between maturity and ongoing growth.

In addition to infrastructure that can be seen, such as roads and railways, this new invisible infrastructure will be built, without falling behind the world, to lead Tokyo’s digital shift. For this to happen, the TMG itself must have thorough knowledge of advanced technology. We will employ 10 highly-specialized and extremely experienced ICT personnel for managerial positions this month. We will also newly create a recruitment category for ICT personnel and begin recruiting from next fiscal year. These and more efforts will be taken to reinforce our system to promote digital policies.

Last month we hosted the Tokyo Data Highway Summit. Chaired by Japan’s leading internet experts, and with the participation of the leaders of telecommunications, discussions were held on specific strategies to quickly build the next-generation network. To accelerate installation of the base stations necessary to create that network, the TMG will lend much support to private-sector initiatives by making the databases of TMG-owned facilities publicly available, establishing one-stop consultation desks, and other measures. Centering around this summit that gathers expert knowledge for “updating” Tokyo, we will strongly team up with the private sector and accelerate creation of the world’s fastest mobile network as an investment in the future.