1.Making the turning point in COVID response an opportunity for a counteroffensive

Gratitude for cooperation in COVID-19 response

Last month COVID-19 was downgraded to a Class 5 infectious disease, marking a major turning point in our 1,200 day fight against the virus since the first infection was confirmed in Tokyo. Our unprecedented battle against variants was an ongoing process of trial and error in which we sought ways to protect the lives and health of the people of Tokyo. That we have been able to move on to a new stage is the result of the hard efforts and cooperation of everyone, centering on you, the members of this assembly, as well as the residents and businesses of Tokyo and healthcare professionals. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to you all. Meanwhile, however, the virus has not disappeared. Based on the Tokyo model that we have built, we will firmly promote initiatives to ensure that people can continue to feel safe about receiving medical care. To that end, a bill for a supplementary budget of aapproximately 200 billion yen has been submitted to this regular assembly. In Tokyo, cases of measles have occurred for the first time in three years, and syphilis and Mpox, the so-called monkeypox, are also on the rise. Drawing on the knowledge we gained through this difficult experience, we will devote our resources to building a city that does not waver even when confronted by unknown infectious diseases.

Tokyo will drive the post-COVID counteroffensive

Society is now showing a full-fledged restart of activities. In Tokyo, contents that generate vitality are appearing one after another in areas centering on Yaesu, Kabukicho, and the former site of Toshimaen. We see many inbound visitors all over the city. There are also signs of a gradual recovery with, among others, the stock market reaching its highest level in 33 years since the burst of the bubble economy. Japan's growth energizes Tokyo, and Tokyo's growth also energizes Japan. We must not miss the opportunity for Tokyo, the capital of Japan, to drive the post-COVID counteroffensive and nurture these signs of growth into a huge wave. Without turning our eyes away from Japan's various structural challenges, we must identify the roots of the problems and do what needs to be done. With this resolve, we will continue to refine our urban power from all perspectives.