5. Devoting all efforts to become a city where people shine

The increasingly serious state of the low birthrate and shrinking population is making it ever more important to realize a society where each and every person can play an active role. Aiming to make Tokyo a city where “people” are the main actors, we will roll out detailed measures.

Raising the children who are our future

Becoming a society that puts children first

Applications have opened for 018 Support, which provides families with 5,000 yen per month for each child 0 to 18 years of age residing in Tokyo. All children are eligible for the payment with no restrictions on household income. Along with the Tokyo Mom and Dad Support Project, this is illustrative of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's commitment to providing seamless support from pregnancy and childbirth to parenting. The Tokyo Certification System for Housing Conducive to Raising Children, which promotes the development of housing environments conducive to child-rearing, has already attracted interest from many businesses, and the number of houses certified is steadily increasing. In order to widely popularize the concept of ikugyo, the “job of parenting,” which maintains that parenting leave is not leave from work, but work to raise the future, we will also roll out projects in collaboration with businesses to provide seamless support in various areas including housing and work styles. Moreover, our program to support the growth and development of children has been named the Tokyo Suku Waku Program （suku suku means healthy growth, waku waku means excited or happy） with anticipations that it will facilitate the healthy and happy growth of children. The program, which will transcend the boundaries between daycare centers, kindergartens, and other facilities, will be expanded throughout Tokyo. With the launch of the provision of child care on a scheduled basis, regardless of the parent or guardian’s employment status, at daycare centers and other facilities, we will create opportunities for children to interact with others from a very young age. Last month, we appointed leaders in a variety of fields to serve as ambassadors for the Children's Smile Movement. Through the initiatives that put children first, we will work to make the smiles of children even brighter to also energize society as a whole.

Education meeting today’s needs

We will strive to raise the quality of education in order to cultivate the next generation of talent. At Tokyo metropolitan schools, we are advancing the establishment of an “education dashboard” to centralize and make data related to education accessible, including information on student attendance and grades, with the aim to launch the dashboard next year. Through evidence-based guidance, we will bring out the full potential of students. Tokyo metropolitan technical high schools have also undergone a rebirth. The diverse, high-quality education offered, based on the concept of “new monozukuri human resources” is a major point of pride for these schools, because the curriculum goes beyond monozukuri, the art of manufacturing. We will actively promote these schools, making sure to fully convey their attractions. We hope that human resources capable of producing new value through the education they that received at Tokyo metropolitan technical high schools will boldly go out into Japan and the world.

Meanwhile, in today’s global society, English communication skills are essential. Following the results of a recent national academic achievement test, the ability of junior high school students to use English has come to light as an issue. Through our ongoing pioneering efforts, such as the introduction of a speaking test at the junior high school level, Tokyo placed highest among the prefectures. A great many students applied to take part in the summer camp held at Tokyo Global Gateway, our immersive English education facility. Thanks to the high level of interest, we were pleased to have many more students than expected spend time immersed in the language. From this fall, we will also hold a new English presentation contest for high school students. By growing the number of opportunities to practice English, we will work to further improve English language skills.

Toward a society where everyone can display their individuality and abilities and no one is left behind

Empowering women

Currently, Japan still lags far behind the rest of the world in terms of women’s participation in society. And, we must accelerate efforts. We will launch a special site to share examples of proactive efforts taken by companies, including the utilization of Femtech, technology that can be used to help women manage health issues, and various systems for taking time off of work. By deepening the understanding of both employees and employers, through efforts such as holding online seminars, we will build momentum for the creation of a work environment where women can continue to work with peace of mind, as well as an environment where working women can truly shine in all respects. In addition, we will hold conferences in October and November that gather women leaders from various fields, including female mayors, governors, and business leaders. By holding active discussions and sending out powerful messages from women, we will dispel the mindset within society that hinders the success of women.

At the same time, the advancement of women in society should not result in women having to narrow their options as they map out their life plan. To support the desire of women to lead their lives in their own way, we will launch support for the cost of egg freezing next month. We will work to establish an environment that allows women to have their eggs frozen safely and without worry, including working to spread correct knowledge among Tokyo citizens and companies, and support the choices of each and every individual.

A society where senior citizens and the disabled can lead active lives

It is vital to ensure that older adults can continue to lead active lives through participation in society. For seniors who wish to utilize their wealth of knowledge and experience through a post-retirement career at an SME, we have newly established a short-term, intensive course to give participants useful skills for adjusting to a new workplace. We will also firmly support the activities of the Silver Human Resources Center, an initiative launched by Tokyo, and encourage motivated senior citizens who want to have second careers. Furthermore, it is important to create a system that will allow individuals to participate in activities in line with their wishes. That is why we will steadily advance efforts to build an online platform that can centrally manage information on various activities in Tokyo and match people with activities across the area.

It is said that many people with developmental disabilities possess unique abilities in the areas of memory and calculation. By spreading the concept of neurodiversity, which recognizes and embraces differences in individual brain function and promotes the utilization of these unique abilities within society, we will expand opportunities for individuals with disabilities to play an active role in society. That is why we launched a trial employment program in cooperation with several companies this month. Along with examining any issues that may emerge and the effects of the program, we will publicize model cases, with the aim to expand the range of interested companies.

Additionally, it is imperative that we focus on ensuring an ample supply of the welfare human resources that support the lives of senior citizens and the disabled in local communities. We will work in a strategic manner to further study effective measures related to securing, cultivating, and keeping human resources from every possible angle. And, we will promote the realization of a truly inclusive society where everyone can demonstrate their abilities to the fullest.

Protecting and supporting children in difficult circumstances

We will advance measures to prevent young people who feel they have no place to go from becoming victims of crime or other harm. I accompanied Yoshizumi Kenichi, Mayor of Shinjuku, on a site visit to a location referred to as “Toyoko” in the Kabukicho area of Shinjuku where many young people gather, with some loitering, on a regular basis. During the visit, we affirmed our commitment to work together to address this issue. As these young people continue to be lured into dangerous situations by adults, we cannot ignore the painful situation that they are in. Therefore, we will implement detailed measures suited to the individuals in question who are carrying a great deal of anxiety, including the establishment of an environment that facilitates consultation without worry.