4. Becoming a city that is brimming with vitality and captivates the world

In order to emerge victorious in the fiercely competitive global environment, we must work to make Tokyo more dynamic than ever before. We will draw out Tokyo’s potential with diverse human resources, technologies, and ideas, and turn our city into one brimming with vitality that captivates the world.

Generating innovation to rise above the global competition

Sharing our concept of SusHi Tech Tokyo

For the first time in 44 years, a conference bringing together waterworks industry representatives from across Japan will be held in Tokyo. We will create opportunities for interaction with startups and overseas organizations, and leverage our technical expertise with regard to our world-class water and sewerage system to help solve urban challenges and generate new business opportunities.

Similar to our advanced infrastructure technology, our concept of SusHi Tech Tokyo represents a strength and a source of new growth for our city. SusHi Tech Square, a facility we opened in the Yurakucho district, will serve as the base that renders this concept visible by utilizing digital technologies. The facility will showcase various kinds of content incorporating elements of art and design, and I hope that many people will come to experience the possibilities of digital technology. The upper floors of the building will be occupied by Tokyo Innovation Base, a hub for startup support that is slated for pre-opening in November. The matters we have discussed with the private sector will now enter the implementation phase. Operations will begin with events and other activities, and ahead of the full-scale opening of the facility next spring, we will enhance its functionality while refining our planning and operations strategy. By operating the facility in an integrated way as a giant space for interaction, it will become a gathering spot where startups and other diverse players will flock to bounce ideas off of one another and share their aspirations. I hope these interactions between people as equals, transcending corporate and regional boundaries, will give rise to new ideas that will transform society.

Universities are important players in sparking innovation. Recently, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to advance research, human resource exchanges, and other initiatives with Columbia University, an institution contributing to solving urban challenges primarily in New York. We have also teamed up with the University of Tokyo, an institution that has a national academic research network, and will continue to expand our circle of collaboration with universities both within Japan and abroad. We will combine the wisdom of Tokyo and the world to create and cultivate more and more startups.

A TMG-led transformation of government services

Digital transformation （DX） is the biggest tool for achieving the Grand Reform of Tokyo. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government （TMG） will take a leading role in pushing to harness the power of digital technologies to transform government services. We will work across the boundaries of government to punctually deliver services that are optimized to meet the needs of each and every individual. The driving force behind this transformation will be GovTech Tokyo, an organization of experts that has finally launched. We will vigorously push forward with the digital transformation of Tokyo and the municipalities in Tokyo through efforts such as procuring talent, which is a struggle for many local governments, as well as building a shared digital infrastructure. We have outlined the image of the future city we seek to realize as the “Tokyo Digital 2030 Vision.” With the TMG and GovTech Tokyo working in harmony, we will strive to turn Tokyo into a digitally advanced city.

Similarly, it is important to expand the scope of digital transformation in the private sector as well. We will support the cultivation of digital human resources of small and medium enterprises, which has been a challenge. By making effective use of technology, we will dramatically improve business efficiency and productivity, leading to the creation of higher-quality products and services.

Communications infrastructure is vital for these initiatives. We have formulated a new policy to realize a “Connected Tokyo,” where anyone can connect online with peace of mind anytime and anywhere. We will advance initiatives with the public and private sectors working hand in hand, aiming to become a smart city where everyone can use convenient services and where many different challenges can be easily solved by using data.

Evolving further into a city brimming with excitement and vitality

Enhancing Tokyo’s appeal to invigorate all of Japan

International tourists walking the streets of Tokyo are once again becoming a common sight. We will use this opportunity to further enhance the appeal of Tokyo. This year marks the third year of TOKYO LIGHTS, an event where attendees can enjoy a variety of sound and light shows, including breathtaking projection mapping displays. Like previous iterations of the event, TOKYO LIGHTS 2023 has been fascinating many people, with it appearing that the event has become established as a new attraction of Tokyo. Additionally, in Ikebukuro, Anime Tokyo Station will soon have its grand opening as a hub for anime-related content. Through a full menu including exhibitions of popular works, workshops, lectures, and more, the facility will fully showcase the world-class appeal of Japan’s “killer content.” In November, we will simultaneously hold interactive fashion events in Marunouchi, Ginza, and Shibuya. Armed with Tokyo fashion born out of refined sensibilities on par with that of London and Paris, we will transcend language, cultural, and generational barriers to captivate and attract many people within Japan and abroad.

In enhancing Tokyo’s appeal, we will not only turn our city into one brimming with vitality, but also invigorate all of Japan. This is our pivotal role as the capital city of Japan. We will leverage the consumer power of our 14 million residents and work with Fukushima Prefecture to launch a campaign to dispel harmful rumors and support the fishery industry. Japanese cuisine is our country’s pride. Taking the opportunity provided by the campaign to eat fresh, delicious seafood will show strong support to businesses and everyone in the Tohoku region, while also conveying its appeal to the world.

Urban development in the waterfront area, Tama area, and the Tokyo Islands

In the Tokyo waterfront area, the former site of the Olympic and Paralympic Village in Harumi will be reborn as a new community next year. Ahead of the move-in of residents into the district, we will be hosting a community pre-opening event next month, allowing Tokyo residents an early opportunity to get a feel for the area that will be a model for sustainable cities. To improve access between Tokyo’s bay area and central Tokyo, we will also launch ferry commuting services leveraging our waterfront spaces. Transport services will start next month between Nihombashi and Toyosu, and next spring between Harumi and Hinode to coincide with the opening of the community, as part of our effort to establish ferries as a mode of transportation symbolic of Tokyo as a “city of water.”

This year marks 130 years since the Tama area was transferred to Tokyo’s jurisdiction. To commemorate this occasion, we will be holding an event to convey to many people the three appeals of “living in,”　“working in,” and “visiting” the Tama area. Also, the cinematic nighttime view visible from the north-south Tama Monorail was certified as a Night View Heritage of Japan. We will treasure, protect, and work to further expand the activities of Tama residents, which can be observed through the windows of the monorail. And to better evolve our initiatives to promote the Tama area, we will gather opinions from local municipalities and experts and devise strategies to further invigorate the area.

On the Tokyo Islands, creative and original efforts are underway to develop attractions that highlight local characteristics. With bold ideas that depart from traditional ways of thinking, such as building sustainable residences that can be self-sufficient with regard to electricity and water, as well as promoting the digital transformation of island tourism using cutting-edge technologies, we will generate new vitality and excitement. Furthermore, we will also advance various initiatives, such as recruiting college students in Tokyo to stay for a week on the islands and propose ideas for the brand marketing of local specialties, to uncover the charms of the Tokyo Treasure Islands.

Guiding the World Athletic Championships and the Deaflympics to success, with the trust of Tokyo and Japan residents

The historic gold medal won by Kitaguchi Haruka in the javelin throw at the World Athletic Championships, as well as the outstanding feats of the Japan men’s national basketball team to qualify for the Olympics without an automatic bid for the first time in 48 years, inspired excitement and courage in the people of Tokyo and Japan. So that we may proudly pass down the invaluable legacy of sports to future generations, we will work to guide two international competitions in 2025 to success.

Recently, the competition visions for the Deaflympics were announced, calling for the realization of an inclusive society where “everyone can make the most of their individuality and exert their abilities.” Under the event emblem that embodies the thoughts of students with hearing impairments and junior high and senior high school students representing the future generation, we will energetically move forward with preparations while leveraging the legacy of the Tokyo 2020 Games. The local organizing committee for the World Athletics Championships has also been established and is beginning operations in earnest. Last month, I was able to see firsthand the World Athletics Championships play out in Budapest, and there, we promoted Tokyo as the site of the next competition. In working toward guiding both of these events to success, we at the TMG will offer support in many ways to help the competition organizing committees establish good organizational governance and to ensure that the events are fair and trusted.