1. Foreword

In the IMD World Competitiveness Rankings released by this Swiss business school in June, Japan ranked 34th, its lowest ever. And in the recent ranking of stocks by market capitalization, only one Japanese company made it into the top 100.This situation must be taken seriously.

Meanwhile, Tokyo has an abundance of nature and a sophisticated urban environment; companies, universities, research institutions and other organizations that possess world-class technology; and an accumulation of knowledge that has been passed down the ages since the Edo period. Our future depends on whether we can take concrete action that makes the most of these potentials.

As the age is now at a historical turning point, it is now time to realign our posture. It’s game-changing time. If Tokyo, the capital, changes, Japan will also change. As a big wave sweeps over the world, we will courageously take up the challenge of evolving into a city that generates new value.