5. For a safe and secure city that strongly supports the activities of people

Nothing other than safety and security can fully draw out the power of “people” and support dynamic urban activities. We will thus bolster the three integral elements of self-support, mutual support, and public support.

Enhancing the city’s resilience through the three integral elements of self-support, mutual support, and public support

First, self-support and mutual support. Many Tokyo residents live in condominiums and other such multifamily residences. Good progress is being made in the registration by such residences as facilities engaging in preparations to make it easier for their residents to shelter in place in the event of a disaster. We will sustain this momentum by actively informing them of the importance of implementing earthquake drills and building stockpiles, and work to further expand their numbers for better disaster preparedness.

We will also work to strengthen systems for resident activities at the onset of a disaster. The other day, we conducted a 24-hour on-the-ground earthquake simulation exercise for all areas under the jurisdiction of the Tokyo Fire Department. This helped to further strengthen collaboration with the municipalities and local fire brigades, and to enhance the fire and disaster preparedness of neighborhood associations.

Initiatives to bolster public support will also be promoted. This month we will revise the basic plan for measures against heavy rain. To ensure that our response can protect against most incidences of heavy rain forecasted to occur, the amount of rainfall targets to be cleared will be raised by 10 millimeters per hour throughout Tokyo. The plan will also include initiatives such as promoting the introduction of green infrastructure that assumes the occurrence of situations surpassing predictions, and while also taking into consideration what kinds of river facilities are required, we will build a city that will not succumb to storms and floods. The Umegaya Tunnel, which will connect Hinode Town and Ome City will finally open next March. This will vastly heighten the area’s disaster resilience by doubling road network routes.

With a Nankai Trough earthquake expected to occur in the near future, it is imperative that we work quickly to establish tsunami response in the islands. On the day before yesterday, a tsunami was observed at islands including Hachijojima and Kozushima. In the tsunami that hit in October, there were damages with small boats capsizing. Tokyo made an immediate request to the national government to strengthen systems such as for tsunami monitoring. We will steadily promote the building of a tsunami detection system now underway by a team centering on the Tokyo Metropolitan University. Furthermore, construction will begin at the start of the New Year in Toshima and Mikurajima islands for complete removal of utility poles to strengthen the disaster resilience of the islands.

The metropolitan government’s business continuity plan （BCP）, which was formulated on the assumption of a major earthquake directly hitting Tokyo, underwent a major revision as “All Hazards: Step 1” to enable flexible response to a diverse range of disasters as well. In the near future, this will be further upgraded as a BCP for possible hazards such as an eruption of Mt. Fuji. This will further enhance the disaster response of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which serves the role of command center.

In order to prepare for ballistic missiles, which could be called our greatest threat, the first-ever evacuation drill in Tokyo using temporary evacuation facilities was held in Nerima-ku last month. The important points to protect your life in an emergency is to “get away, keep a distance, and take cover.” Along with regularly holding drills, we will strengthen activities to inform the public so that each citizen becomes more aware of the risk of missiles.

Based on such initiatives, we will upgrade the Tokyo Resilience Project within the year. In addition to heavy rainfall measures and disaster preparedness by multifamily residences, new initiatives such as response for volcanic ash from an eruption of Mt. Fuji will be added and more specific details for measures will be provided. By also clarifying medium-term targets for each measure, we will pave a sure path to a resilient and sustainable city that protects the lives and assets of its citizens.