A Message from the Governor to the Citizens of Tokyo

May 9, 2003

I would like to begin by extending my sincere gratitude to the many citizens of Tokyo who supported me throughout my first tenure, and who have awarded me a fresh mandate to serve a further term of office as Governor of Tokyo.

Leading the Tokyo Metropolitan Government promises to be an increasingly difficult task, as not only Tokyo or even Japan, but the whole world, appears to be reaching a major turning point in its history.

Listening to the opinions of the citizens of Tokyo, I am aware that there is much concern about Japan’s current status, and the prevailing political climate in which the leaders of state affairs appear to have little consciousness of the present dangers which surround us.

I have once again been made to realize the weight of the responsibility I bear in my present position, and this has provided me with a powerful motivation.

What people desire from government are clear guidelines, clear intentions and their effective implementation. By changing Tokyo, it is my intention to pave the way for Japan to enter into a new era. To achieve this, it is necessary to completely overhaul the old order, which is constricted by outmoded antecedents and customs.

Taking the opinions of the citizens of both Tokyo and Japan into full account, and drawing on the reserves of my wide-ranging experiences, I propose to take even more direct and bolder actions than ever before. This will, of course, require the cooperation of the Metropolitan Assembly, and accordingly, I humbly request your full support.

In closing, I would like to ask you to consider the measures for agreement concerning the proposed appointment of the Vice Governor tabled before you today.

In order to fulfill our promise to the citizens of Tokyo, we are currently examining suitable candidates, both internal and external to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, for the position of the 3rd Vice Governor, whom we will be able to propose at the June assembly.

In addition, we will carefully examine whether or not the necessity arises to recruit a 4th Vice Governor. In either case, we intend to deal with this matter through discussions at the Metropolitan Assembly once the initial proposal has been accepted.

This concludes my message to the Assembly - thank you for your kind attention and for your continued cooperation.