5. A future full of hope where people shine

In any age, it is people who take central stage. We must realize a society where people shine, not by having individuals live in adherence to systems and schemes, but by having systems and schemes adhere to how they live.

Leading the realization of a society that makes it easier to have and raise children

Population decline is top among the structural issues facing our country. A country’s population is its very strength, and by all rights it should be the state’s major policy concern. This population decline is significantly impacted by the declining birthrate. Compound factors are behind this, and having children is the result of individual life choices. At the root of this issue is probably whether people can be confident that their lives will be happier by having children. That is why I have positioned the realization of a society where people who wish to have and raise children can do so with confidence as Tokyo’s top priority, and have been striving to achieve this. As represented by our support for egg freezing and the 018 support program, we have been advancing measures ahead of the national government to provide seamless support from meeting a partner, to marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. I believe that we have received the support of many of our citizens for these efforts. The people of Tokyo and Japan must be able to feel that our society has changed to one that supports each and every individual in their self-realization. We will continue to swiftly build up initiatives that cover all stages of life.

We have also launched support for men to take tests for future pregnancies. In addition, as a result of our efforts to cultivate momentum for society as a whole to support parental leave, and create a workplace environment for this, we have now entered an age where some 40 percent of working men in Tokyo take paternal leave. In order to further promote this trend, we will enhance and strengthen support programs for SMEs that are encouraging their employees to take leave.

We received very good response and various feedback when we launched the 018 Support program. From next month, we will begin accepting applications from those newly eligible for this support this fiscal year. We have dramatically improved the paperwork burden through utilization of the My Number Card. Providing various administrative services in a simple and reliable manner through the united efforts of the national government, Tokyo and the municipalities—Tokyo will take the lead in building such an environment that makes it easier to have and raise children.

Creating a society where women can demonstrate their potential

We must also accelerate the transition to a society in which women can fully demonstrate their potential. Through efforts to lead by example, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government we have substantially increased the percentage of women on deliberation panels and other councils to about 46 percent, and our percentage of women in managerial positions is also higher than the private sector average. I am convinced that we can change the situation through dedicated efforts. Utilizing the network we have built with companies that share our aspirations we will work for the career development of Tokyo Metropolitan high school students and the cultivation of female leaders. We will also make it possible for women to pursue their desired careers and let their own light shine through efforts including the opening of the Working Women Square in September and provision of opportunities connecting investor networks with female entrepreneurs.

In order to identify what needs to be done for a society that allows women to be more active, Tokyo Kurashikata (Lifestyle) Council, which was launched last year, has been closely examining issues facing our country with a focus on barriers standing in the way of women, such as the “income barrier,” which, if surpassed, results in lower take-home pay. Its first meeting for this fiscal year was just held the other day. We will deepen discussions from various perspectives and strongly urge the national government to immediately review systems that hinder women's active participation in society.

“Children First,” to nurture children who hold the future in their hands

The creation of a children-first society that carefully nurtures children who hold the future in their hands is the most important challenge facing the Tokyo government. That is why we have been dealing head on with this issue over the past years.

We will transition the Tokyo Suku-Waku Program, which encourages the sound (suku-suku) growth of children who will always be exuberant (waku-waku), from the development phase to the expansion phase. We will strategically promote awareness of the program to a wide range of stakeholders, including the municipalities, and roll it out throughout Tokyo. With regard to overseas visits by students and teachers of Tokyo metropolitan high schools, we will expand the countries and the scale of the program to cultivate diverse individualistic perspectives and expertise, as well as a rich cosmopolitan outlook.

In addition, in order to increase choices for places of learning and third place settings for children finding it difficult to assimilate into school life, next month we will launch dedicated websites for support systems established this fiscal year for users of free schools and other educational alternatives, and for civic organizations. We will also inform the public of these systems so that they can be more widely used, and in this way, support various forms of learning. Moreover, under the "Project for Junior and Senior High School Students’ Participation in Policy Decisions," we will promote efforts to upgrade policies from the viewpoints of children who hold our future in their hands.

There is also an increasing number of young people who face difficulties or anxieties, and seek a third place. While also considering such recent circumstances, we will begin revising the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Plan for Children and Youth, which outlines the basic policy for measures to support social independence. By including the opinions of young people and other approaches, we will ensure their safe and sound growth. Enhancing education is precisely what will encourage self-actualization, making it the metropolitan government’s important pillar for Tokyo’s future development.

A long-life society where people can remain active

In this time referred to as the age of the 100-year life, we must make it the norm for older citizens to be able to use their capabilities and experience and always remain active in their own way. We have, up to now, established the “Tokyo Recurrent Navi” website and Tokyo Metropolitan University's Premium College to develop an environment that responds to the needs of those desiring learning or relearning opportunities. In addition to these efforts, next month we will open the Platinum Career Center in Toranomon, which will support the realization of various workstyles for ambitious older adults. At the Silver Human Resources Center, which had its start in Tokyo, we will fully utilize digital transformation to bolster functions for the provision of information that matches individual needs, and expand opportunities for senior citizens to be active in both companies and their communities.

We will also accelerate preparations for the year 2025, when the last of the postwar baby boomers turn 75. In order to realize a society where people can feel safe about their daily lives even if they come to require long term care, we will continue to work to raise the image of the long-term care industry, and also support both the foreign long-term care workers coming to work in Japan and the facilities accepting them. Moreover, we will strategically secure, retain and cultivate human resources by implementing detailed measures such as providing housing support for long-term care workers and care managers.

Looking to the future, another pressing issue would be to further improve the environment so that people with dementia can maintain their dignity and live with hope. While listening to the opinions of the parties involved, we will advance the formulation of a new plan that incorporates the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's progressive efforts, such as the Tokyo Dementia Measures Promotion Project.