1. Our aims now that the Tokyo 2020 Games have ended

The experience of leading the Games to success are irreplaceable treasures

The Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, where exciting competitions unfolded for about a month and delivered courage and strong emotions throughout the world, has been brought to a close. Even now, I vividly remember how thrilled I was this summer by the athletes’ powerful performances.

Not only were the Games postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they were also held without spectators. A new page was etched in Olympic and Paralympic history through Tokyo’s management of operations down to the last detail and strict infection prevention measures taken amid this unprecedented adversity. The experiences of leading the Games to success are irreplaceable treasures. I wish to once again give thanks from the bottom of my heart to the people of Tokyo and the rest of Japan, the countries of the world, and all related personnel for their huge support and cooperation for the Games.

Use the Games experience as a springboard for the next stage of metropolitan administration

With this global festival of sport now ended, we must use this experience as a springboard to carve out Tokyo’s bright future. At the Games where safety was ensured and diversity was respected, the sight that left the most lasting impression on me was the radiance emitted by “people,” centering on the athletes and volunteers. Through the Games, I reinforced my resolve to thoroughly implement crisis management for protection of the lives of Tokyo’s citizens from all manners of threats, and to develop the Games legacy for a future in which each person can shine in their own way.

The increasing frequency and severity of storms resulting from climate change; large-scale earthquakes, including one directly hitting the capital, which could strike at any time; and invisible, unknown infectious diseases that could become huge global threats, such as the current coronavirus. Infallible crisis management that protects the people of Tokyo from all kinds of disasters is the fundamental premise for a society where everyone can be fully active. Based on each disaster’s characteristics and while also considering situations in which they occur simultaneously or consecutively, we must be able to rally the full resources of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government at any time to ensure the safety and security of the people of Tokyo. This is our most basic duty.

And regarding the outstanding legacy generated through the experience of holding the Games, we will have this lead to Tokyo’s true maturity. Specifically, we will remove the many physical, institutional, and psychological barriers that strongly remain in our society to create a “barrier-free” society. This is not limited to urban development, but is the development of a society imbued with kindness and compassion, where people naturally lend a hand to those in need of assistance or consideration. In such a society, anyone will be able to spread their wings and fly as they wish, regardless of age, gender, or impairment. We will create that environment.

For the happiness of the citizens of Tokyo, we must move the metropolitan administration to the next stage. I am confident that the foundation for this is impeccable crisis management and development of the Games legacy, which includes becoming barrier-free. While building this unwavering foundation, we will work to evolve all policies from the perspective of sustainable recovery. For such strategic advancement of metropolitan administration, we will also deepen studies on reinforcing our organization and build a system to steadily implement necessary initiatives. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will unite to take Tokyo, Japan’s capital, to further heights and powerfully lead the sustainable development of Japan as a whole.