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As head of government for the world’s largest city, Tokyo Governor Yoichi Masuzoe is a busy man. From preparations for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games to making his city a vital place for foreign investment and trade, Masuzoe has many ideas. He talks about these and other topics in an exclusive interview with EURObiZ Japan editor-in-chief Mike de Jong.
You have a background as a student and researcher in Europe. How vital is European business to Tokyo?
You know, we have a very close and strong bilateral relationship with the United States. But as a global partner, Europe is very important for us. To take an example, you can buy a Boeing jet airplane or an Airbus. I really appreciate that we have two alternatives. This is a very good reason how, and why, we have to keep close and better relationships with European countries. Another one is international finance. Twenty years ago … Tokyo was one of the three headquarters on this globe with Wall Street and the City (London). But now, unfortunately, Singapore is replacing us as the financial hub of Asia. So we would like to bring this back to Tokyo, from Singapore. In that sense, European bankers and the securities companies are very important for us to launch Tokyo’s global financial strategy.
What is Tokyo doing to attract more European investment?
We have set up a global financial centre in the Nihonbashi area where you can find the Bank of Japan and many other banks. And we have already opened a forum where you can go and get information. We have also focused on life sciences in the area, too. Many pharmaceutical companies have head offices in Nihonbashi. I know that many European pharmaceutical and medical device companies are strong, so these kinds of efforts will help in opening our country to the European market and vice versa.
You have spoken about the benefits of learning languages. How can Tokyo become more language-friendly?
One of the biggest obstacles for my city to develop more is this language barrier. According to some research institutes [looking at] the ranking order for big cities, number one is London, two is New York, three is Paris, and four is Tokyo and fifth is Singapore. Except Tokyo, in almost all — London, New York, Singapore — the native official language is English. So we are really behind these cities in terms of language, especially English-speaking ability. But the 2020 Games are a big chance for us because people want to learn more. It takes time, but by 2020, I hope the majority of the Japanese younger generation will speak fluent English.
At the same time, we have the technology of simultaneous translation, and applications in that area. Last February, many people from abroad participated in the Tokyo Marathon. We had a machine with 27 simultaneous translation systems. It worked very well. So this is another possibility for us to become a language-free city. And also, in Shinjuku Station, you cannot see in English which direction you have to go. So we gathered all the railway companies to have a unified explanation system. This will become the Shinjuku model of language-free stations. This model will be expanded to Ikebukuro, Tokyo, Shibuya, etc.
You have expressed concerns over delays and cost overruns for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Are you confident the project will be completed on time and close to budget?
I paid a visit to London last fall; and even there where the Games were successful, at the outset, the mayor, Mr Boris Johnson, the government and organising committee had some kind of friction. But little by little, they overcame it. We are in the same process: a national stadium, and the emblem and so forth — there are many problems. But one by one, we have to find solutions and restart. Of course, the cost — the budget — is one of the most important things. But with our efforts and if Japanese people are unified into one big force, we can do that. I’m really confident in our capability to do that.
And I have to add something. As far as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is concerned, I am responsible for all, and I give all the directives. So I can have the final word. The problem is, for other organisations, this is not the case. So the minister should play a much more important role; and now Mr. [Toshiaki] Endo, a very old friend of mine, is the minister in charge of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. So each minister, the prime minister and Mr. [Yoshiro] Mori, head of the organising committee, should have the final word to clearly show the responsibility of the leaders.
Another important thing is transparency of the policy-making or decision-making process. No one knows why this emblem came out or why the cost of the national stadium soared like that. No one knows. The process is very important in a democracy. So regularly, we have to tell the truth. Transparency is one of the most important things for the success of the 2020 Games.
With the Olympics, the IOC wants the city to be smoke-free. Would you support a ban on smoking in restaurants and bars in time for the Games?
First, I don’t smoke. My idea is to separate the places where smokers can enjoy smoking, and also maintain areas where this is strictly forbidden. The problem is there are small shops and restaurants where they welcome smokers and make money off that. So the definition of public places is very important. If I say National Stadium, of course not, right? And a theatre, of course not. But very small establishments like English pubs … these I can’t, for the moment, force. The only thing that we are doing is that, we ask restaurants to put a sign on the door saying if you can or can’t smoke. And we have to educate the people about how harmful smoking is to their health. To ban everything by law is, for the moment, almost impossible. And I am saying to the government or the national Diet, “Please, you decide. Make a law. Not only for Tokyo. But a ban everywhere.” Of course, the WHO and IOC want us to ban smoking completely. But frankly speaking, this kind of very rapid, dynamic and drastic measure will not suit the current situation of Tokyo.
You have talked about Tokyo regaining its lustre as a world financial market. What do you feel are the keys to Tokyo’s growth strategy?
The most important thing for Tokyo is how to make money. You can make money in tourism … many tourists are coming and tourists can pay much money. Innovation is another important thing. For example, the “hydrogen society”. Hydrogen cars and motors are now so fashionable, and we are on the first run of this new technology. This can make good business opportunities. Like the Shinkansen 50 years ago at the 1964 Olympic Games, for 2020, I’d like to promote a hydrogen society that will create another legacy for the economic activity of my country.
Recently, there was a controversy where a female member was heckled in the assembly. What are you doing to ensure that women can contribute and advance in the Tokyo work place?
As a matter of fact, one-third of the officials in my government are women. And, concerning high-ranking posts, 15 or 16% are women. At private companies in Japan, only 5 or 6% of high-ranking officials are women; and in the national government, only two or three positions. So for women, our government is the best place to work. But I’d like to increase more the female numbers of high-ranking officials and award those companies who hire women successfully.
And another thing, the so-called work-life balance is very important. It’s not only women but also men who should change their working style. So I said to my staff: “When the sun sets, you have to go!” and “Go home and have dinner with your family and never come here on weekends.” Another ambitious dream of mine is — now we are working five days out of seven — in the coming years, in Tokyo, work only four days out of seven. We’d have three days’ holiday. You can work flexibly if you have three days’ holiday.
© Japan Today
19 Comments
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NZ2011
Change the smoking thing sooner rather than later.. I hope.
gokai_wo_maneku
Masuzoe for Prime Minister! I've always liked the guy.
fuzzylogic
"As head of government for the world’s largest city, TOKYO. Yes Tokyo is the largest city in the world: At 2,189 square kilometers, the area of Tokyo is 0.6% of the total area of Japan. With a population density of 6,038 persons per square kilometer, Tokyo is the most densely populated prefecture in Japan.
ref:
http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/ABOUT/HISTORY/history03.htm
PTownsend
Interesting that he mentioned the importance of tourism and also of English. Since the 1980's I've heard various leaders say learning foreign languages, especially English, was important, but no significant changes in this regard, at least that I can detect, have been made.
Great that Tokyo has machines that can speak however many languages, but I think if Japan wants to increase revenues from tourism something needs to be done in the way English is taught so tourists can interact with real humans. Japan has world class monuments that attract people from all over the world. Most tourists want some interaction with Japanese people while they're here, even if it's just having a brief chat with a waitperson. I can do that in Paris, Athens, even most places in New York, just about any major city I visit, but need Japanese in Tokyo. And Kyoto.
100 CPM
If a major natural geological cataclysm, were to occur, then Tokyo's high density population, may cause Tokyo to be inescapable during or in such an aftermath.
ref: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IefycP6rprw
moilol
PTownsend
for 2014. half of foreigner tourists in Japan speak Chinese. 20% speak Korean. So to increase tourism they need learn Chinese and Korea. Learning English is more useful for business and education.
HongoTAFEinmate
Knew of him slightly at graduate school. Seem to remember attending a lecture of his (the topic I now escapes me). He has always struck me as an academic who gave up on climbing the greasy pole in favor of a future in politics. Hearing him speak these days, however, I get the impression that he purposedly dumbs himself down in order to appeal to the proleteriate.
daito_hak
Typical a la Japanese indulgent interview which does not ask the real hard questions and clarifications to his answers.
For example why wasn't he ask: why Tokyo decided to organize what it seems to be an extremely expensive olympics instead of investing more in free nurseries and kindergartens, or free nights schools? Or what Tokyo is doing to reduce the exorbitant prices for renting an apartment or simply for buying food? What Tokyo is doing for the environment? Why it isn't reducing its energy footprint and his insane waste of energy? Tokyo being basically an energy black hole, isn't it also responsible for the proliferation of massive nuclear plants in Japan? What measures are being taken to combat corruption? And so on.
As an example for asking clarifications to his answers:
He should have been said: but isn't corruption and the power of construction companies in Japan that fixed their price in the absence of competition which are responsible to this fiasco? Isn't that Abe's government is also responsible for devaluating the yen which made the price of imported materials for the construction more expensive?
He should have been said: this is strange that you say that because Japan is regularly showing that it is not a democracy and that it just wants to appear to be so. Just look how the current government violated the constitution by changing it without the approval of the population as the constitution itself requires it.
He should have been said: but isn't this lacking courage? Are you saying that making money is more important that protecting the health of people who do not want to smoke? Is Tokyo choosing to protect the few businesses that lobby not to make Tokyo but also all Japan smoke-free in public places?
And so on...
PTownsend
Point taken, but which Chinese language? And given that many middle class Chinese and Koreans already speak English, plus the fact that in the foreseeable future English will remain lingua franca, I think it makes more sense for Japan to focus on English. But it would also be nice to see more Japanese speaking the languages of their northeast Asian neighbours. Face to face. :D
DeDe Miura
He seems to be for the citizens... but his track-record with women leaves a lot to be desired.
Polar Cities
Never heard of this guy.
albaleo
But is it a city? Those square kilometers include places such as Hachioji and many other 'cities'.
wowyz
"But is it a city? Those square kilometers include places such as Hachioji and many other 'cities'.
Many call it Japan: Tokyo prefecture, and I heard people call some areas, part of Tokyo-to
Designer
"Of course, the WHO and IOC want us to ban smoking completely. But frankly speaking, this kind of very rapid, dynamic and drastic measure will not suit the current situation of Tokyo"
The bans that wer rapidly intruduced in may other places (LA, Ottawa etc) were rapid, ahead of their time, and very unpopular with many people at the time. That Paris and Ireland (two places where smoking is still rampant in the general public) were amongst the first places in Europe is even more amazing. The reality is that all of these places are so much nicer to visit now that you can go into a restaurant or other public place and know that your time there is not going to be ruined by second hand smoke from selfish smokers who don't give a damn who else smokes their smoke. Japan is soooooo way behind the rest of the civilized world in this department and needs to catch up. it is now shocking for westerners to go into a restaurant in Japan and be met with a barrage of smoke. Ban smoking in public places, get it over with, improve the quality of life in public places in Japan, and stop harming employees who work in these environments. Smoking kills. Everyone knows this.
Makoto Yoshimitsu
The bans that wer rapidly intruduced in may other places (LA, Ottawa etc) were rapid, ahead of their time, and very unpopular with many people at the time. That Paris and Ireland (two places where smoking is still rampant in the general public) were amongst the first places in Europe is even more amazing. The reality is that all of these places are so much nicer to visit now that you can go into a restaurant or other public place and know that your time there is not going to be ruined by second hand smoke from selfish smokers who don't give a damn who else smokes their smoke. Japan is soooooo way behind the rest of the civilized world in this department and needs to catch up. it is now shocking for westerners to go into a restaurant in Japan and be met with a barrage of smoke. Ban smoking in public places, get it over with, improve the quality of life in public places in Japan, and stop harming employees who work in these environments. Smoking kills. Everyone knows this.
old fashioned 15 th century thinking , you wanna japan sink idiot
Illyas
@daito_hak
How is a bar a 'public space'? You can't just offhandedly dismiss the concerns about the livelihoods of these business owners. If I destroyed your livelihood via government edict I doubt you'd be happy. And when people commit suicide after being financially ruined, will you still be claiming prohibition is a great health success?
toshiko
As head of government for Jalanesethe world’s largest city, Tokyo
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
As head of government fhat has the world’s largest city, Tokyo
He is rhe head of Tokyo-To .... am not sure if he is also city mayur.This hace roask city resident Japabese
daito_hak
@Illyas
A public space is a social space that is generally open and accessible to people. Since a bare entirely fulfill this definition, this is public space.
The rest of your post is laughable, so I won't bother to reply to it.
daito_hak
A public space is a social space that is generally open and accessible to people. Since a bare entirely fulfill this definition, this is public space.
The rest of your post is laughable, so I won't bother to reply to it."