PRINCIPAL POLICIES OF THE TOKYO METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT
Tokyo Vision 2020 Driving change in Japan/Showing our best to the world
Overview
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) had
been advancing policies using Tokyo’s Big Change:
The 10-Year Plan as its basic concept for metropolitan administration. However, five years have
passed since the formulation of that plan, and with
significant changes in the environment around the
metropolis following the Great East Japan Earthquake, it became necessary to enrich and strengthen metropolitan policies.
In December 2011, a new plan, “Tokyo Vision
2020: Driving change in Japan/Showing our best
to the world” (hereafter Tokyo Vision 2020), was
formulated as Tokyo’s new urban strategy. It aims
to revitalize Japan and spur on Tokyo’s development by implementing policies that accurately
respond to the new social and economic situation
from a mid- to long-term perspective.
Tokyo Vision 2020 will carry on the ideology and
basic concepts of the 10-Year Plan and will steadily
advance the policies that were raised therein without allowing the damaging effects of the earthquake
bring them to a standstill. Efforts will continue to
be accelerated by restructuring measures based on
detailed review of the outcomes of initiatives that
had been taken up to now as well as the lessons learned
from the earthquake.
Response to New Challenges: Key Points in Bolstering Policy
Based on circumstances following the earthquake,
this plan will strive to bolster and strengthen policies with particular focus on the following three
points:
(1) Strengthening disaster management policies:
Building a sophisticated disaster-resilient city
The TMG had been focusing on disaster management policies, but the chain of events that came to
light in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake were outside the conventional framework
for disaster response. To maintain urban functions
and protect the lives of residents, Tokyo will build a
sophisticated disaster-resilient city that is fully prepared for the occurrence of earthquakes — a challenge Japan is destined to face — and other natural
disasters such as localized torrential rainfall, which
have been occurring with increasing frequency in
recent years.
(2) Promotion of energy policies: Highly efficient,
independent and distributed energy strategy
The rolling blackouts implemented in the immediate aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake
and the need to conserve power due to insufficient
power supply during the summer exposed the vulnerability of the existing system of energy supply.
The central government is essentially responsible
for promoting energy policy, but in order to ensure
that Tokyo’s functions are not paralyzed, Tokyo
must take the initiative in implementing energy
strategies that set energy policy as one of the pillars
of urban policy. Energy policy will be positioned as
one of the highest priority tasks to be addressed by
the administration, and conversion to a new energy
supply model will be promoted. This model will
include the generation of locally produced, locally
consumed energy and the advancement of independent, distributed power production.
(3) Increasing international competitiveness:
Becoming the international business hub of Asia
In contrast to the remarkable advancements made
by the cities of Asia in recent years and their rapid
economic growth, Japan has been losing its international competitiveness. In order to overcome this
situation, it is essential to restore Japan’s position
as the “hub of Asia” by encouraging global companies to establish their Asian headquarters and R&D
centers in Tokyo, a city that has high potential. By
attracting global enterprises to Tokyo and having
these companies collaborate with the small- and medium-sized enterprises in Japan, new technologies and new services will be created. As a result,
Tokyo will evolve into the headquarters of Asia, and
this will lead to revitalization of Japan as a whole.
The Eight Goals of Tokyo Vision 2020
Tokyo Vision 2020 has restructured the goals put
forth in the 10-Year Plan to raise the following eight
new goals. While positioning disaster management
and energy policies as the main pillars, leading
initiatives will be implemented in various areas
including the environment, urban infrastructure,
industry, welfare, education, and sports.
Goal 1: Achieve a sophisticated disaster-resistant city
and demonstrate Tokyo’s safety to the world
A safe city that Tokyo can proudly show the world
will be achieved through large advancements in
disaster response capabilities. Tokyo will devote
its resources to be thoroughly prepared for earthquakes, tsunamis, ? ooding, and other natural disasters.
Goal 2: Create a low-carbon society with a highly
efficient, independent and distributed energy system
Tokyo will balance economic growth and low carbon lifestyle to become the world’s most eco-friendly city with the highest degree of energy efficiency
and superb energy security.
Goal 3: Restore Tokyo to a beautiful city surrounded
by water and greenery
A relaxing and bustling urban space will be
achieved by having water and greenery crisscross
the city to restore a rich environment to the metropolis and generate a gracious cityscape.
Goal 4: Connect land, air, and sea to raise Tokyo’s
international competitiveness
Tokyo’s international competitiveness will be
boosted by developing its roads, harbor, and airport
into world-leading infrastructure, and by promoting urban development around stations in central
Tokyo that are centers of business or tourism.
Goal 5: Put Tokyo on a new track to growth by
raising industrial power and the allure of the city
By fully using the strengths of Tokyo as well as
by harnessing overseas growth, efforts will be made
to vitalize industries. Tokyo’s profile in the areas
of tourism and culture will also be raised through
strategic overseas PR activities and measures to
fortify systems supporting these areas.
Goal 6: Build and show the world an urban model for
a society with a low birthrate and aging population
Initiatives will be taken to realize a city where all
citizens can live together with a sense of assurance.
This will be done by creating an environment in
which senior citizens can play active roles in society
and by having society as a whole support families
having and raising children.
Goal 7: Raise globally competent individuals by
creating a society where anyone can strive for high
goals
Measures will be taken to give children the
strength to shoulder the future, support young
people who want to take on the world, and provide
diverse opportunities to people who are motivated
to learn and work.
Goal 8: Create a society where everyone can enjoy
sports and provide children with dreams
The activities of athletes will be used to inspire
children and the power of sports will be harnessed
to realize a city full of vitality where people can live
healthy and meaningful lives.
The 12 Key Projects of Tokyo Vision 2020
Initiatives that will be strategically implemented
to achieve the above eight goals are positioned as
the 12 key projects of Tokyo Vision 2020. Each
project has a specific vision of Tokyo in 2020 and
outlines the policies that need to be implemented
over the next decade.
Formulation of the Action Program
Three-year action plans are formulated to ensure
the viability of the measures taken to achieve the vision of Tokyo in 2020. Called the “Action Program,”
this spells out the three-year targets and three-year
program implementation plans. The progress and results of the measures are checked regularly, with the
plans revised every year to accurately and promptly
reflect changes in the social climate.
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