4. Standing by people and creating a Tokyo where they shine

Next, I will speak about Tokyo’s key policies. A Tokyo where everyone, from children to senior citizens, those with impairments, and foreign residents, carve their own futures and shine. To create such a city, we will strongly push forward policies with a focus on three themes that start with C: Children, Chōju (longevity), and Community.

Nurturing children and weaving a bright future

First, I will speak about measures for “Children,” aimed at bringing up children who lead the next generation and building a bridge to a bright future.

A Tokyo overflowing with children’s laughter

In the strategic vision for Tokyo’s future, the goal of achieving a 2.07 total fertility rate is set as one of the future visions for Tokyo. If we continue to experience decline in birthrates and social vitality diminishes as a result, we cannot hold prospects for a bright future. With firm determination to fulfill individual wishes to have children and stem the population decline, we will push forward to the creation of a city filled with children’s laughter and hopes.

The Tokyo Mom and Dad Support Project is a new initiative designed to reduce burdens on mothers after childbirth by dispatching babysitters and other child-rearing and housework helpers, and to help resolve childcare concerns by, among other things, sending advisors to households with one-year-old infants. Through the project, we will also eliminate the difficulties families with twins, triplets, and more multiple births experience by providing assistance when they go out and subsidizing their transportation costs.

Concerning daycare waiting list measures, which I have been tirelessly working on since taking office, the support currently given to daycare centers that use unfilled slots to admit one-year-olds will be expanded to TMG-certified daycare facilities, and we will also promote daycare that effectively uses natural environments. We will thus advance both the quantity and quality of daycare.

The introduction of open space on Toei Oedo Line trains last summer to support parenting has been expanded to seven train formations this month. To enhance convenience, some of these trains are running at the same times every day. While continuing to take the lead in creating a parenting-friendly environment, we will promote the “Team 2.07” movement as a joint effort with the municipalities, enterprises, universities, and other organizations to create a society that cherishes children.

A Tokyo where children have hopes, and grow and develop on their own initiative

We will establish a new educational model that develops children’s ability to act on their own initiative and supports their individuality and abilities. The integration of ICT in the classroom is the key to such a model; toward this end, we will launch the Tokyo Smart School Project to accelerate the provision of mobile devices and build high-speed communication networks, among others. In the future, we will utilize leading technologies, such as AI and big data, to provide each student with individually-optimized learning programs, with the aim to realize school education where no child is left behind.

As for the measure that effectively makes private high school tuition free, the scope of eligible households will be expanded to include those with annual incomes under around 9.1 million yen. We will also provide a new subsidy to help some high school education costs for families with three or more children under the age of 23 as a new initiative. With these measures, we will prepare an environment where each child can learn with peace of mind and fully grow.

Building a long-life society where everyone can shine at any age

Next, I will turn to measures on the second C, “Chōju.” In the era of the 100-year life, we will create a society where everyone can lead bright, active lives with peace of mind regardless of their age. I want to make “Chōju,” which means longevity, a universal word that symbolizes Tokyo.

To give a further boost to senior citizens’ employment, we will upgrade the Employment Support Project for Senior Citizens, which provides comprehensive job support for senior citizens, including job match-ups through the dispatched labor system and educational events. The project will also start supporting senior citizens who are looking to embark on their next career. With these measures, we will create a society where motivated senior citizens can lead active lives according to their aspirations and aptitudes.

At the Tokyo Metropolitan University Premium College (TMU Premium College), which offers continuing education for lifelong learners, applicants for the next academic year again far exceeded enrollment capacity. Starting this April, the “Advanced Course” will open for students enrolled this school year to continue with their second year of studies. By responding in such ways to each and every student’s high motivation for learning, we will support a rich and fulfilling student experience at the TMU Premium College.

In a super-aging society, how we cope with dementia is an extremely important issue. As a new initiative, we will build a scheme that allows trained dementia supporters to work in communities, and advance creation of an inclusive society where everyone can live comfortably. Furthermore, we will work for early diagnosis of dementia by making full use of leading technologies, such as building an AI (artificial intelligence)-based diagnostic imaging system by utilizing the big data available at the Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology.

For the creation of a society where everyone can age in place comfortably, support for transport also plays an indispensable role. We will begin supporting the municipalities’ field tests for demand responsive transport which operates on flexible schedules and with non-fixed origin-destination points. Looking toward the future of public transport in communities, we will promote the development of a highly convenient transport network.

Enhancing Tokyo’s vitality through community revitalization

The third C stands for “Community.” People’s vitality is enhanced by connecting with each other. We will create a mature city abound with vitality, which embraces people and is rich in diversity and inclusion.

In October, we will establish a new foundation which takes on the responsibility of revitalizing communities in Tokyo through initiatives, including promotion of mutual understanding with foreign residents, who are rapidly increasing and diversifying in recent years, and instillation of a volunteer culture as the legacy of the Tokyo 2020 Games. The foundation will offer a multilingual one-stop consultation navigation service, promote the use of “easy (simple) Japanese,” and build a network to match up people who wish to volunteer and organizations that need their help. Centering on the foundation, we will accelerate efforts to create a society where diverse cultures coexist and everyone helps each other.

From the perspective of creating a Tokyo where people shine, we will also advance a new policy for housing, which is the base of our daily lives. Metropolitan housing serves not only as a housing safety net, but also as an important center that connects the community. The new Tokyo Salon for Everyone will open here to offer residents and their neighbors a comfortable place to stay and enjoy meals and social interactions. Through the salon, we will revitalize communities and also establish a relaxed way for people to look after others in their community. In April, Tokyo will be the first prefecture in Japan to start a system for reporting the management situation of condos, an initiative aiming for proper management of aging condominiums in Tokyo. Moreover, in the beginning of the new fiscal year, I will consult the Council for Housing Policy about our future housing policies, with the aim to draw up a new Master Plan for Housing by the end of next year.

Toward a society where everyone can display their individuality and abilities

In addition to the themes of “Children,” “Chōju” and “Community,” we will advance measures geared to the creation of a society where everyone can demonstrate their individuality and talents, and shine in their own unique ways.

The Tokyo Employment Service Center’s Women’s Employment Support Terrace helps women who had left their jobs to have and raise children utilize their abilities in the workforce again. It will be expanded to the Tokyo Employment Service Center in the Tama Area. We will also firmly support women who wish to shine in society by, among others, holding large events where women are presented with diverse workstyle options to discover their own potential. Moreover, we will implement a program that supports women in managerial positions in companies to develop their career and move further ahead. We will then ask those who completed the program to widely promote the appeal of taking active roles as leaders, which we hope will lead to the career advancement of many other women. Along with supporting female workers in managerial positions, we are building a cycle for establishing more women in leadership positions.

Regarding advancing the creation of social firms based on the ordinance adopted earlier, specifics regarding certification criteria and support measures are being developed right now. We will act speedily so that social firms, which enable those disadvantaged in the labor market to participate in the workforce, can be quickly certified.

Social inclusion is not limited to the working world. Last week, the Council for Educational Affairs met and discussed the theme of “the future of special needs education.” We will deepen our discussions so that everyone, whether they have an impairment or not, can receive education tailored to their individual needs. In addition, metropolitan parks have been developing inclusive playgrounds where all children can play. Next month, the first inclusive playpark with playground equipment will be completed in Kinuta Park. By partnering with the municipalities, we will expand the initiative to community parks.

Proposal of the Ordinance on Assistance for Crime Victims and Others

With regard to the Ordinance on Assistance for Crime Victims and Others, which has undergone an extensive study, after a careful review of comments submitted by Tokyo residents, we have submitted a bill to this regular session of the Assembly. Under this ordinance, we will roll out a wide range of measures, including financial support in the forms of solatiuma payments and provision of a subsidy for moving costs, a first for prefectures in Japan, and support for crime victims of foreign nationality. We will deliver close support to ensure that crime victims and their families can live with a sense of security.