Summary of Governor Koike’s New Year Address to TMG Employees

On Friday, January 4, 2019, the first work day of the new year, Governor Koike spoke to the employees of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG). The following is a summary of her New Year address.

Happy New Year! This year is a watershed year for our country as we welcome in a new era in May. Let us maintain a bird’s-eye perspective of the world and trends of the times, and use each day to advance full efforts to ensure a bright future for Tokyo and the children who will be born in this new era.

The importance of “life-work balance”

We need to make steady accomplishments in our three key themes of  “bolstering urban strength,” “a prosperous Tokyo” and “connecting people to people,” and to that end, I wish you to place even greater importance on life-work balance.

Expanding telecommuting

In order to expand telecommuting, I would like the managerial class to take the lead in practicing flexible and efficient styles of work. During the Tokyo 2020 Games, we aim to have about half of the TMG employees at the main building work from home at least once a week to help alleviate traffic congestion.

Promoting paperless workstyles

This year, I would like us to strive for even more efficiency in preparing materials and operating meetings, which tend to use large quantities of paper. What is most necessary for good work is your experience, achievements, knowledge, ideas, and power of implementation. Please keep this in mind in promoting a paperless environment.

Fully using paid vacation leave

I would like you to fully use your paid vacation leave to enrich your time away from work and have this lead to even better work performance. Along with encouraging all employees to take at least 15 days of vacation leave a year, we will also aim for use of all 20 days.

Promoting the more active role of women

Tokyo is currently in the midst of rapid change. This makes it imperative for the Tokyo government to pursue ways for bold application of the new perspectives and ideas of women and young staff. Please reaffirm that your workstyle reform as Tokyo government employees is the pillar of Tokyo’s grand reform.

Success is all about preparation

The long-awaited Rugby World Cup 2019 will be held in September, and next year we will be staging the Tokyo 2020 Games. As this year is the Year of the Boar, I want us to aggressively push on preparations with the entire Tokyo government united as one, and in full cooperation with the other host cities as well.

Let us together work for Tokyo’s evolution. I hold great anticipations on your strong capabilities.