Policy Speech by the Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, at the Second Regular Session of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, 2017
3. The wholesale market relocation issue
What should the metropolitan government be doing now to build a bright future for Tokyo? An issue symbolic of this question is the Tsukiji Wholesale Market relocation issue. We will consider a vision for the market 50 years and 100 years into the future from a grand perspective to arrive at a conclusion that is truly in the interest of the people of Tokyo and fulfils our responsibility to future Tokyo citizens as well. To that end, we should not focus solely on the issue of which location provides greater safety and peace of mind.
Of course, safety and peace of mind are the largest issues here. With the situation as it stands—not having achieved “decontamination” of the Toyosu Market site—we are advancing a thorough examination of the situation in line with our roadmap to see if safety based on legal and scientific evidence, and peace of mind coming from the understanding and conviction of the people of Tokyo, can be ensured. Other perspectives we must not forget are changes in the distribution environment that have occurred over the span of years that relocation of the market was debated, as well as the balance of cost and benefit to the citizens of Tokyo. The volume of marine products handled at Tsukiji Market has been decreasing year on year, and is now about half of that handled 30 years ago. Based on such changes in the environment, we must also consider the future economic rationale and sustainability of the market and reach an appropriate decision.
Both the Expert Council and Food Market Project Team have each conducted deliberations many times. The results of the soil contamination tests at Tsukiji Market were also released the other day. The Market Strategy Headquarters is currently undertaking an intensive and strategic comprehensive examination of the future vision for the market by laying out all arguments including such multifaceted analyses and the environment surrounding the market, while also hearing the opinions of businesses operating at the market, the distribution industry, producers, and other relevant parties. Based on its conclusions, as the head of the metropolitan government, I will make a comprehensive decision, a responsible decision, for Tokyo’s future.
