Special Address: KOIKE Yuriko, Governor of Tokyo 特別講話: 小池百合子 東京都知事

Key Concepts

• Resilience: The ability of a city or system to withstand, adapt to, and recover from shocks and stresses, particularly natural disasters and climate change impacts.
• Sustainable Growth: Economic development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, emphasizing safety and security.
• Tokyo Resilience Project: A comprehensive initiative by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to strengthen the city's preparedness against natural disasters, aiming for safety for the next 100 years.
• Sustainable Bonds (Green Bonds, Resilience Bonds): Financial instruments issued by governments or corporations to fund projects with environmental or social benefits. Tokyo has issued over $3.5 billion in sustainable bonds since 2017.
• International Presence: Tokyo's efforts to enhance its standing and influence in the global community through various initiatives.
• Global Financial City Tokyo: An initiative to position Tokyo as a leading global financial hub.
• Next Generation Solar Cell: A thin, light, and flexible solar technology developed in Japan, suitable for installation on building walls.
• Railway Technology: Japan's advanced and safe railway systems, exemplified by Hitachi's contracts and Tokyo Metro's partnership in London's Elizabeth Line.
• SusHi Tech Tokyo 2025: An innovation conference aimed at fostering open innovation and connecting startups with investors and international cities.

Tokyo's Efforts to Strengthen Resilience and Enhance International Presence

Governor Yuriko Koike of Tokyo delivered a special address focusing on the city's strategies to bolster its resilience against natural disasters and elevate its global standing. She highlighted the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters worldwide, including floods in Texas, volcanic eruptions in Indonesia, and earthquakes in Japan, underscoring the critical need for safety and security as the foundation for sustainable growth.

Strengthening City Resilience

• Tokyo Resilience Project: This project is a core initiative to prepare for all possible risks and ensure safety for the next 100 years. It aims to protect people's lives and livelihoods from natural disasters while maintaining the city's functions and economic activities.
• Financial Support for Resilience: Tokyo is committed to financially supporting the realization of a sustainable and resilient world.
  • Sustainable Bond Issuance: Since 2017, Tokyo has issued over $3.5 billion worth of sustainable bonds, starting with Tokyo Green Bonds, the first by a local government in Japan.
  • Tokyo Resilience Bonds: This fiscal year, new Tokyo Resilience Bonds will be issued to accelerate the Tokyo Resilience Project.
• Specific Resilience Measures: The Tokyo Resilience Project includes:
  • Building new regulating reservoirs.
  • Promoting seismic retrofitting of residential buildings.

Enhancing Tokyo's International Presence

Governor Koike outlined Tokyo's ambition to become a leading city for sustainable and resilient finance and a world's city of choice for international business and talent.

• Attracting International Visitors and Talent:
  • Record Tourism: Tokyo welcomed nearly 25 million international visitors last year, contributing to Japan's record high of nearly 37 million visitors.
  • Global Financial City Initiative: Tokyo is actively building an international business environment to attract global top-tier talent.
  • Living Environment for Foreign Nationals: Plans are underway to establish international schools around Takanawa Gateway and Tokyo stations, integrated with urban development.
  • Visa Status Improvements: The national government is bolstering systems, including preferential measures for highly skilled professionals and plans to expedite visa procedures.
• Leveraging Japan's Technological Strengths:
  • Next Generation Solar Cell: Japan's innovative solar technology, characterized by its thin, light, and flexible nature, can be installed on building walls, offering a versatile alternative to conventional solar panels.
  • Railway Technology: Japan's sophisticated railway technology ensures world-leading safe and precise train operations. Examples include Hitachi's numerous railway contracts and Tokyo Metro's partnership in operating London Underground's Elizabeth Line.
• Fostering Open Innovation:
  • SusHi Tech Tokyo 2025: This initiative, launched three years ago, has become Asia's leading innovation conference.
    • Scale and Reach: It featured exhibits by over 600 startups, attracted over 57,000 participants from 100 countries and regions.
    • Objectives: The conference aims to provide startups with business opportunities with investors, facilitate interaction with overseas cities, and accelerate open innovation from Tokyo.

Key Arguments and Perspectives

• Interconnectedness of Safety and Growth: Governor Koike argued that safety and security are the fundamental pillars for long-term sustainable growth.
• Proactive Disaster Preparedness: The transcript emphasizes the necessity of preparing for all possible risks, not just reacting to them.
• Financial Innovation for Sustainability: The issuance of sustainable bonds is presented as a crucial financial tool to fund resilience and sustainability projects.
• Tokyo as a Global Hub: The address positions Tokyo as a city with immense appeal, capable of attracting global talent and businesses through its unique blend of culture, technology, and a commitment to safety.
• Transforming Challenges into Opportunities: The narrative suggests that the current turbulent times can be transformed into forces for positive change through innovation and strategic initiatives like SusHi Tech Tokyo.

Notable Quotes

• "The underlying foundation for long-term sustainable growth is safety and security. We are being called on to strengthen resilience so that we may flexibly overcome and adapt." - Governor Yuriko Koike
• "Tokyo aims to become a leading city for sustainable and resilient finance." - Governor Yuriko Koike
• "We will harness Tokyo's cultivated strength and appeal, and strive to enhance our city's presence in the international community." - Governor Yuriko Koike
• "Transforming the turbulence of the times into a force for positive change." - Governor Yuriko Koike (referring to initiatives like SusHi Tech Tokyo)

Logical Connections

The address logically progresses from the global context of increasing natural disasters to Tokyo's specific strategies for resilience. This is then linked to the financial mechanisms (sustainable bonds) that support these efforts. The discussion shifts to Tokyo's international ambitions, highlighting its attractiveness to visitors and businesses, and how technological strengths and innovation platforms like SusHi Tech Tokyo are integral to achieving this global presence. The overarching theme is Tokyo's proactive approach to building a safe, secure, and globally competitive city.

Conclusion

Governor Yuriko Koike's address outlines a comprehensive vision for Tokyo, emphasizing its commitment to building a resilient city capable of withstanding natural disasters and its ambition to enhance its global standing. Through initiatives like the Tokyo Resilience Project, the issuance of sustainable bonds, and the promotion of innovation via SusHi Tech Tokyo, the city is strategically positioning itself as a leader in sustainable finance, a safe haven for its citizens and international visitors, and a dynamic hub for global business and technological advancement. The core message is that by prioritizing safety and security, Tokyo can achieve sustainable growth and thrive in an increasingly unpredictable world.