Happy New Year!

As we welcome the first dawn of a new year in the Reiwa era, I am once again determined to create a Tokyo that shines in the new era.

Through the great achievements of the Japanese national team, last year’s Rugby World Cup 2019™, which included eight matches held in Tokyo, generated great excitement. I wish to express my heartfelt respect to the members of the team who led Japan to its first placement in the top eight, playing strongly united as symbolized by the “ONE TEAM” slogan. I would also like to extend my deep gratitude to all of the volunteers who firmly supported the tournament, as well as municipalities and people in communities throughout Tokyo who worked tirelessly to create a vibrant atmosphere.

With that fever yet to subside, the year of the Olympic and Paralympic Games is finally upon us. Construction of Games venues is proceeding as planned, and we are also having all of the volunteers thoroughly prepare the omotenashi or Japanese style hospitality. We will extend the valuable experience gained from running the Rugby World Cup 2019™ and all-Japan sense of unity through to the summer and absolutely guide the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 to success.

We will boldly advance investment in the future beyond the Games to achieve sustainable growth for Tokyo and Japan. The strategic vision for Tokyo’s future that we announced at the end of last year clarifies the path to achieving that goal. With this vision as the foundation, together with the people of Tokyo, we will build a brilliant future that strikes a balance between “growth” that powerfully drives Japan’s prosperity and “maturity” that enables everyone to live with peace of mind and lead a vibrant life in a society where people live longer lives.

I wish you an amazing year full of happiness.

January 1, 2020

Koike Yuriko
Governor of Tokyo