5. A Tokyo with full safety and security

Next, I will talk about measures that will assure safety and peace of mind for Tokyo’s residents, which is the fundamental premise for people to shine.

Ensuring further advancement in disaster measures

In view of disasters caused by heavy rain that are intensifying each year, a new Action Plan for Heavy Rainfall was formulated last month to further advance safety and security measures. Based on this action plan, we will steadily advance ongoing developments including the Ring Road No. 7 underground regional regulating reservoir, and implement measures in response to last year’s typhoon experience such as installation of more river-level monitoring cameras and the upgrade of sluiceways in operation. Additionally, in an effort to have about 1.5 million cubic meters of reservoir capacity in operation by fiscal year 2030, we will embark on projects to build new regulating reservoirs for Shakujii River and Sakai River next fiscal year.

At the Tokyo Fire Department, a new “first responder team,” which arrives in flooded areas first when floods occur and swiftly carries out rescue activities, will begin operations. The Tokyo Fire Department will be the first fire department in Japan to introduce airboats capable of transportation over land. We will thus steadily strengthen our preparedness against heavy rain disasters that could occur every year.

Securing power supply during blackouts is a major challenge to the further evolvement of our disaster management measures. As such, we will support the placement of power generators and other such devices at local community centers that serve as focal points for residents to support each other during disasters. Moreover, we will support installation of emergency power supply at the municipal government buildings, where the disaster management headquarters will be set up, by subsidizing costs and dispatching experts. In addition, we will launch a new website to promote stockpiling at home for disaster preparedness. We will thus advance wide-ranging measures from the perspectives of self-support, mutual support, and public assistance.

Building a disaster-resistant city

Twenty-five years have passed since the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. To this day, I remember the scene in which fire instantly spread as fallen utility poles and collapsed buildings hindered evacuation activities as well as rescue and recovery efforts. The removal of utility poles, an undertaking whose importance as a measure for disasters was once again brought to the fore by last year’s typhoon, is now expected to be largely completed on metropolitan roads within the so-called center core area. The initiative has also been launched in the Tokyo Islands, and with regard to municipal roads, measures have been expanded by, among others, increasing subsidies for municipal roads that contribute to disaster management. Next fiscal year, a Strategy to Accelerate Removal of Utility Poles (tentative name) will be formulated. While enhancing collaboration with the municipalities and the private sector, and promoting developments in technology to cut construction costs, we will speed up work on area-wide removal of utility poles in the city.

To further promote town development to prevent the spread of fire, we will revise the Urban Development Plan for Disaster Resistance by the end of next fiscal year. Last month, we presented a draft of the plan’s basic policy which lays out a course of action that delves more deeply into finding solutions, including a flexible approach toward fireproofing buildings with no road access and renewal of close-set wooden housing areas to create an attractive streetscape. We will proceed to study concrete projects for the plan in coordination with the local municipal governments.

Furthermore, in order to facilitate post-earthquake rescue and recovery, we must bolster the seismic resistance of buildings along disaster response routes and ensure passage through these routes, which will become lifelines for these activities. We will further advance our efforts in this area through, for example, phased seismic retrofit of buildings particularly at a high risk of collapse and increased support for earthquake-proofing of tenanted buildings.

And, in order for us to strongly promote disaster-resistant town development, collaboration with the national government is also indispensable. Last month, we established a working-level council between the central and metropolitan governments to study the development of a disaster-resistant city. The council members will share knowledge and information with a broad range of sectors, including private organizations, with an aim to implement effective measures, including town development that will construct more high ground and further improvement of districts with close-set wooden houses.

Building a health care provision system that supports safety and security now and into the future

To create a Tokyo where everyone can receive high-quality health care services with peace of mind, we will formulate the Vision for New Hospital Management Reforms. Recently, in its preliminary draft, we explained the line of thinking that had led us to start preparations for the management of metropolitan hospitals and hospitals operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Hospitals Corporation under a local incorporated administrative agency. While considering views expressed by Tokyo citizens and stakeholders, and discussions in the Assembly, by the end of this fiscal year we will release the new hospital management reform vision which will set forth the future path for hospital management. We will devote our energies to building an efficient and effective health care provision system that can support the safety and security of Tokyo’s residents into the future.

Improvement of the transportation infrastructure that supports safe and unhindered movement

We will advance further measures to improve the transportation network that supports people’s safe and unhindered movement and draws out Tokyo’s vitality.

Systematically advancing the improvement of the railway network

As for the development of a railway network that leads to comfortable commutes and enhances the appeal of the Tama Area, recently, we decided to commence a feasibility study on extension of the Tama Intercity Monorail to Hakonegasaki. Additionally, with regard to railway lines such as Tokyo No. 8 Subway (Yurakucho Line), we mapped out courses of action in the strategic vision. We will continue to accelerate our talks and coordination with the national and local governments, railway operators, and other stakeholders.

Development of Ring Road No. 2 and creation of a bustling Tsukiji

Regarding our efforts to improve the road network, the aboveground section of Ring Road No.2 will open to traffic on March 28th. With the opening of this road, a transport depot on the site of the former Tsukiji fish market and the Olympic and Paralympic Village in Harumi will be connected during the Tokyo 2020 Games. Also, in May, the Tokyo BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) will begin pre-operations on the route extending from Toranomon to Harumi via Ring Road No. 2 to meet increasing transportation demand in the waterfront area. We will continue to advance initiatives aimed at the opening of the Ring Road No. 2 tunnel in FY2022, thus developing a new road network linking the waterfront area and city-center and ensuring smooth local transport.

As for development of the Tsukiji district, the dock area will be developed first prior to the start of full-scale implementation. While striving to invigorate boat transportation and giving consideration to connections with the outer market of Tsukiji Market, we will announce specific implementation policies within this fiscal year. Drawing on the initiatives of the private sector, we will quickly generate new dynamism in this area.

Bolstering the functionality of Haneda Airport

To enhance Tokyo and Japan’s international competitiveness and contribute to the smooth operations of the Tokyo 2020 Games, from late next month, the national government will add some 39,000 annual international departure and arrival slots at Haneda Airport. The TMG will newly establish a liaison system to share information with relevant local governments when new flight routes become operational. The TMG will continue to request the Japanese government for provision of detailed information and steady implementation of noise pollution and safety measures. We will work to gain the deeper understanding of Tokyo residents in order to enhance the functions of Haneda Airport, which is crucial for the future of Tokyo.