Policy Speech by the Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, at the Third Regular Session of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, 2016
5. Closing remarks
Shinpei Goto, who served as the city of Tokyo's seventh mayor and contributed to the capital's recovery after the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, composed the jichisanketsu, a set of three rules to live by: "Do not rely on others. Help others. Do not ask for a reward in return." At this time, I would like to reaffirm the importance of these words.
The word "public servant" has a much wider definition than just that of government employee. The "spirit of public service" is something that is required of every individual who works at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, as well as you, the members of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, and of course, me, the governor. As we are all aware, as long as the governor of Tokyo and all of the Assembly members are elected by the citizens of Tokyo, entrusted with funds from tax money, and utilize these taxes, we are expected to act in the "spirit of public service." We must always focus on what is beneficial to the metropolis and the people of Tokyo, and take the stance of wise spending.
Those who lack awareness regarding the public nature of our work should never be allowed to contort the public interest for personal gain. Fulfillment of self-interest is not to be tolerated. I feel as if Shinpei Goto is now asking us if we are striving to "not rely on others but help others, and not asking for a reward in return." Shinpei Goto may be looking at what has become of the Tokyo that he worked so hard to establish, and scolding the metropolitan government for having become so morbidly obese.
We must now again create a firm framework that envisions Tokyo 50 years, 100 years into the future. We will not have done our job if we only ensure the state of affairs in Tokyo during our lifetime. We must work for the citizens of Tokyo today and for the future citizens of Tokyo 100 years from now. I am determined to do so.
We will also steer metropolitan affairs in a manner that allows the people of Tokyo to have hope that Tokyo will become a better place. I look forward to working with the citizens of Tokyo and the members of this Assembly to create the "new Tokyo" that will shine a bright light on Japan's future. I again request your cooperation.
Including the matters to which I have already referred, a total of 30 proposals have been presented to this regular session of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, including one budget bill and 11 proposed ordinances, to be deliberated among the Assembly members.
This concludes my policy address to the Assembly. Thank you.
