PRINCIPAL POLICIES OF THE TOKYO METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT

TOKYO’S URBAN STRATEGY
“TOKYO’S BIG CHANGE: THE 10-YEAR PLAN”

Key Initiatives of the 2010 Action Program

Goal 1: Restore Tokyo’s beauty as a city of water and greenery

Steadily advancing the creation of greenery

• 400 hectares of greenery will be created in three years by grassing schoolyards, developing urban parks, and greening waterside spaces and small urban spaces, among others.
• The green road network will be enhanced by planting 200,000 roadside trees for rich and attractive greenery.

Attractive roadside trees

Strategically preserving greenery

• Woodlands, agricultural fields, and other existing greenery will be strategically preserved based on policies such as the Comprehensive Policy to Secure Greenery.

Creating waterside spaces in symbiosis with the natural environment

• In order to improve biological habitats and create waterside spaces where people can enjoy the water with a sense of assurance, easy-to-understand targets for water quality improvement will be established, and measures to achieve these barometers will be taken.

Preserving historic landscapes

• Tokyo residents are highly concerned with the preservation of historic landscapes. A fund for formation of historic landscapes will be established to partially subsidize the expense of restoration needed to preserve historic structures that have been designated by the TMG.
  This fund will be established through donations by private companies and residents, and contributions from the TMG and another organization. Over the next three years, subsidies are scheduled to be granted for the preservation of six structures.
• Along with the preservation of historic structures, support will be given to a model project for landscaping of the surrounding community in order to study how the community overall should be landscaped to integrate with these structures.

Understanding the importance and rediscovering the attractions of landscapes

• Studies will be conducted on how to effectively teach children within the community to understand the importance of landscapes so that they will be able to pay due attention to their community landscapes in the future.
• The 100 Landscapes of Tokyo (tentative name) will be newly selected to allow the attractions of Tokyo’s landscapes to be rediscovered.

Example of a townscape that gives off a sense of history

Accelerating the removal of utility poles in concert with community development

• In order to create a good urban landscape, ensure safe and pleasant pedestrian spaces, and strengthen urban disaster control, the removal of utility poles along metropolitan roads will be implemented along with the promotion of area-wide pole removal in sightseeing spots and around major train stations.

<Before>	<After>
Creation of good urban landscape by removing utility poles

Goal 2: Transform Tokyo through the three loop roads

Strengthening airport functions

• Regular international flights will be introduced to Haneda Airport with the start of operations of the new D runway from October 2010. This will also boost airport capacity from an annual 303,000 flights to 407,000 flights.

Re-expansion of Haneda Airport

Strengthening port and harbor functions

• Regional cooperation between the three ports of the Keihin area (Tokyo, Yokohama, and Kawasaki) will be strengthened by formulating the Comprehensive Plan for the Keihin Ports in fiscal 2011.

Developing road networks

• The opening of the entire line of the Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway Central Loop Route to traffic in fiscal 2013 as well as other developments of the three loop roads and major roads will be steadily promoted with the aim to mitigate traffic congestion and reduce emissions of carbon dioxide.
• Continuous grade-separated railway crossings will be advanced for the removal of 42 level crossings in three years.

<Before>	<After>
Removal of level railway crossing through the project for continuous grade-separated crossings

Introducing and promoting ITS^* technology

• In order to increase access to the airport in line with the introduction of regular international flights to Haneda Airport and its re-expansion, a Public Transportation Priority System using the control of traffic signals, will be introduced to the airport limousine bus (airport buses going directly to Haneda or Narita airports). This will reduce traveling times from major stations and hotels to the airports.

• Fast Emergency Vehicle Preemption Systems will be introduced in emergency vehicles such as ambulances and police cars. By giving priority to the operation of emergency vehicles in major intersections through traffic signal control, time to the scene of emergency or the hospital can be reduced and traffic accidents involving emergency vehicles can be prevented.

Schematic Image of Traffic Signal Preemption

Mechanism of Traffic Signal Preemption Using infrared beacons established on the roads, vehicle information is identified, and traffic signals are controlled to give priority to specified vehicles when they pass through intersections.

Goal 3: Have Tokyo become the city with the lowest environmental load in the world

Implementing measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions of large-scale establishments

• The carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions of industries and business sectors will be steadily reduced through the system for mandatory emission reduction by large-scale industrial and business establishments effective from fiscal 2010 and the smooth operation of emissions trading beginning from fiscal 2011.

Supporting measures taken by small and middle-sized establishments to reduce CO₂ emissions

• Proposals for energy conservation measures that are in line with the actual business situations of small businesses and guidance for improvement of operations will be offered free of charge for 1,800 businesses over a period of three years.
• Subsidies will be given for the introduction of energy-saving equipment under the condition that the reduction in CO₂ emissions is transferred to the TMG for free. The emission reduction will be turned into carbon credits and used in the emissions trading system.

Promoting low-carbon housing

• In order to reduce CO₂ emissions coming from heating and cooling in general homes, support will be given for energy-saving refurbishments of homes by dispatching specialists to households to examine the building and then drawing up refurbishment plans.
• In order for 40,000 households to introduce solar energy devices by fiscal 2010, support will be given for the installation of such equipment in houses and condominiums.

Solar heating system for veranda installation

(photo courtesy of Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd)

Promoting environment education for children

• A carbon reduction action month will be implemented for 5th grade and 7th grade students in public schools in Tokyo. Through environmentally-friendly behavior conducted at home for one week, they and their families will be able to experience what can be done to reduce CO₂ emissions in daily life.

Expanding the popularity of next generation vehicles

• One-fourth of the price difference between conventional cars and electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids will be subsidized for small and medium-sized enterprises in order to have 15,000 of such cars on the road by fiscal 2013.
• Support will be given for the installation of rapid chargers to reassure users of next generation vehicles, and 80 facilities will be established in Tokyo by fiscal 2013.

Electric vehicle (photo courtesy of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
	Rapid charger
(photo courtesy of Takaoka Electric Mfg. Co., Ltd.)

Aiming for the circulation of water resources

• Forests that have fallen into ruin will be rejuvenated through regular thinning and other measures. This will restore the benefits of forests, which include the cultivation of water sources, mitigation of global warming, and reduction of disasters in mountainous districts.
• Buildings using recycled water, which is wastewater that has undergone advanced treatment, for toilet flushing and other purposes will be steadily increased.

Goal 4: Strengthen Tokyo’s disaster preparedness to enhance safety

Studying new measures to regulate and encourage more seismic retrofitting of buildings

• Focusing on buildings that would have a large impact on emergency activities in the event of an earthquake, studies will be conducted on measures to regulate and encourage the seismic retrofitting of such buildings, beginning with mandatory assessment of the building’s resilience against earthquakes.

Seismic retrofitting of buildings along emergency transport roads

• Subsidies for seismic retrofitting will be granted to all buildings that have the possibility of collapsing and obstructing emergency transport roads.^* For this purpose, the current requirement for the building’s total floor space to be 1,000 square meters or more will be abolished.
• The seismic retrofitting of privately-owned structures will be promoted through a low-interest loan scheme.
• Staff visits to building owners to give direct advice or guidance will be significantly increased.

Collapsed building blocks the road

(Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, 1995)

Seismic retrofitting of emergency hospitals

• Subsidies for the expense of seismic resistance assessments will continue to be granted. Along with this, in consideration of the high costs related to seismic retrofitting, the maximum amount of subsidies provided will be raised significantly from about 60 million yen to about 900 million yen.

Seismic retrofitting of schools

• Seismic retrofitting of all 7,400 buildings of elementary and middle schools will be completed by the end of fiscal 2013.

Seismic reinforcement of school gymnasium Braces are installed on the window

Seismic retrofitting of homes

• Reaching a consensus among condominium owners is a major issue that arises when they consider seismic retrofitting. To this end, along with subsidizing seismic assessments and retrofitting expenses, support will be given in the form of subsidies to municipalities sending seismic resistance advisors to the condominiums.
• Subsidies for the installation of quake-resistant shelters will be granted to senior citizens and those with disabilities who have financial difficulties.

Quake-resistant shelter

Building up a consultation system

• Free consultations on seismic retrofitting for all kinds of structures will be implemented at the Seismic Resistance Comprehensive Consultation Desk.

Strengthening measures against novel influenza

• Support will be given to the municipalities and lifeline-related businesses for the formulation of business continuity plans and collaboration with neighboring local governments will be bolstered.
• Influenza antiviral drugs to treat 7.7 million people and 4.8 million sets of protective gear for healthcare workers will be stockpiled by fiscal 2010.

Goal 5: Create a reassuring society for senior citizens and child-raising families

Developing new styles of homes for senior citizens

• With growing concerns over housing for the elderly, new styles of homes for senior citizens will be provided through the “Tokyo model” of unique initiatives for senior housing. These homes offer affordable residence, are prepared to deal with emergency situations and to confirm the resident’s safety, and can provide care services when needed.
  
  Tokyo Model 1: Care homes (rental) ensure quality services including emergency response and confirmation of safety.
  Tokyo Model 2: A metropolitan care home incorporates Tokyo’s own facility standards, which include the easing of national conditions concerning the size of living space.
  Tokyo Model 3: One-stop service desks operating around the clock watch over senior citizens in the community.

Enhancing services to support child-rearing

• Efforts will be taken to enhance child daycare services. This will include increasing subsidies for operation expenses in order to encourage certified daycare centers to raise their capacity; strengthening support for hoiku mama, authorized childcare providers using their homes to look after several children, and daycare facilities located in companies; and establishing a unique daycare service for part-time workers in response to the various working styles of parents. Through such efforts, the number of children using daycare services will be increased by 22,000 in three years.
• A unique metropolitan style Gakudo Club, looking after elementary school children after school hours, will be established under the basic principles of extending hours and posting qualified childcare workers. The number of children registered in the Gakudo Club will be increased by 11,000 in three years.

Childcare facility

Reviewing working styles

• Initiatives to achieve a balance between work and raising children, taken together by several companies, such as large companies in concert with small companies, to change working styles using their own ingenuity and new attitudes toward work will be supported, and these efforts will be publicized as a “Tokyo model.”

Creating an environment where people can bear and raise children with a sense of reassurance

• While focusing on the safety of children and cooperation with daycare facilities, affordable and good-quality private rental housing with space surpassing a specified area will be supplied to child-raising families as a model project.

Bolstering the perinatal and pediatric medical care system

• In response to the medical needs of the growing number of low birth weight infants (infants weighing less than 2,500 grams at birth), NICU (neonatal intensive care units) beds will be increased to 320 by the end of fiscal 2014 (219 beds as of December 2009)
• Child Critical Care Centers (tentative name) will be established for the quick admission of children in serious condition at any time of the day and the provision of advanced internal and surgical critical care necessary for symptoms distinctive to children.

Securing safety for children

• Volunteer leaders to support local residents’ activities to watch over children will be fostered in the communities.

Watching over children along the school route

Goal 6: Raise Tokyo’s profile through culture and industry

Promoting tourism to lure visitors from abroad

• Japanese anime, which has been capturing the attention of people abroad in recent years, will be perceived as Tokyo’s new tourism resource. Locations depicted in anime, anime events, anime studios that can be visited, and other information will be included in Japanese-English pamphlets and other media, and this information will be disseminated to the world.

Bringing back the vitality of Edo, the city of water:
The Sumidagawa Renaissance begins

• Playing at the waterside
  Pioneering and continuous efforts taken by the community, such as holding crowd-gathering events or opening cafes alongside the river, will be supported in order to achieve a bustling waterside area.
• Relaxing at the waterside
  Development of the esplanade, which would include installation of benches and greenery, will be advanced to create a relaxing waterside environment.
• Enjoying trips on the water
  General use of the disaster management boat landings during normal times will be expanded, and the development of new boat routes that link the sightseeing spots along the Sumidagawa River will be promoted.

Open cafe on the Sumidagawa esplanade

Building communities incorporating universal design

• Subsidies will be granted to residents, businesses, and municipal governments taking original initiatives to integrate physical measures and services in areas around train stations, shopping roads, public facilities, and others.
• Metropolitan roads linking stations, public facilities, hospitals, and others will steadily become barrier-free.

Enhancing courtesy through training sessions	Barrier-free roads and public transit
Incorporation of universal design

Promoting high growth industries:
Promoting creative urban industries

• In order to resolve urban challenges facing Tokyo such as environment and health and welfare, a technology strategy roadmap that focuses on commercial application will be formulated, and support will be given to technological and product developments that follow this guideline.

Providing support toward small and medium-sized enterprises aiming for overseas development

• Detailed support will be given to small and medium-sized enterprises that have globally competitive technology and/or products. This includes support from experts in the product’s field and practical support in the field using the network of specialized trading firms.

Goal 7: Create a society where motivated individuals can pursue their ambitions

Raising the quality of education and expanding children’s potentials

• Efforts will be made to raise the academic abilities of school children by using outside personnel such as retired teachers and university students at supplementary classes held on Saturdays or other days at public elementary, middle, and high schools.
• An outside institution experienced in raising academic skills will be used to assess the instruction methods taken at high schools that emphasize preparation for entering universities, and the results of the assessment will be used to benefit other high schools. This will help raise the academic abilities of students in metropolitan high schools.

Ensuring the sound development of children through hands-on activities

• Athletes will be sent to events held by municipalities, groups, and other organizations to provide children with the opportunity to learn the importance of following rules in sports and the value of teamwork.

Sports event

Supporting job seekers in finding employment that matches their situation and desires

• The size of various events taken to support job seekers in finding employment will be expanded in response to the harsh employment situation. These will include job support for non-regular employees in their 30s who have little experience as regular employees; job fairs for students; and programs supporting women in their re-entry to the workforce after a long period of absence due to child-raising or other reasons.

Cultivating human resources for industry

• In order to expand human resources supporting the manufacturing industry, educational programs based on “manufacturing classes” conducted under collaboration between the Tokyo Metropolitan College of Industrial Technology and the consecutive 9-year elementary and middle schools in Tokyo, will be developed for implementation by other elementary and middle schools.

Manufacturing class by the College of Industrial Technology

(Source: Yashiogakuen, consecutive 9-year elementary and middle school of Shinagawa Ward)

• Project-based learning (PBL)* will be jointly implemented by the Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology and the Vietnam National University to foster engineers in the field of manufacturing.

Fostering human resources for the future of Asia

• A high level of human resources who could serve as a bridge between Tokyo and the cities of Asia will be cultivated in a variety of fields by establishing an exchange student program between the Tokyo Metropolitan University and the universities of Asia.

Goal 8: Promote sport to provide dreams to children

Promoting measures to increase the physical fitness of children

• Spaces where children can play as they wish with a sense of safety will be built in metropolitan parks in order to raise the physical fitness of children and to also form an environment that is friendly to parents raising children.
  This will include exclusive play spaces for children and spaces around this where parents watching over their children can rest and interact; spaces where children are free to play with balls or do other sports; and indoor areas where children can play and parents can interact.

Images of play spaces for children
Space where parents can rest while watching over their children	Exclusive play space for children

Space for playing with balls or other sports

Indoor space for playing and parent interaction

Creating opportunities and environments where everyone can enjoy sports

• Community sports clubs operated by the local residents and that can be used by everyone in the community to enjoy sports throughout their lives will be established in all the municipalities by fiscal 2013.
• The Tokyo Marathon and the Marathon Festa will continue to be held to give participants and spectators an opportunity to share the pleasure of sports.

Tokyo Marathon 2009

• New sports, which can be enjoyed by anyone, even beginners, regardless of age or experience because of their relatively simple rules and little need for skills, will be broadly introduced to the residents of Tokyo through seminars and other events.

New sport: Kin-Ball

Preparing for the National Sports Festival and the National Disabled Sports Festival in Tokyo

• Efforts will be promoted for the simultaneous hosting of the 2013 National Sports Festival and National Disabled Sports Festival.

Hosting international sports events that gather the world’s top athletes

• Tokyo will be hosting international sports events that bring together the world’s top athletes such as the World Judo Championships in 2010 and the World Gymnastics Championships in 2011.