Meeting with Yamazaki Yasuhiro, Mayor of Musashimurayama City

Governor Koike held a meeting on April 21 with Yamazaki Yasuhiro, who has been re-elected as Mayor of Musashimurayama City located in the capital’s western Tama region. 

“You have been responsible for the safety, security and hope of citizens in Musashimurayama City all along,” Governor Koike told the mayor. “I hope you will continue serving them energetically.”  

Tokyo Tama Intercity Monorail, which runs about 16 kilometers north to south in the Tama region, will be stretched under a new urban development plan adopted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) at the end of the fiscal year 2024. The northern tip of the monorail, 80 percent owned by the TMG, will be extended by about 7 km through Musashimurayama, now the only city in Tokyo without a railway line.

Citing this new project, Governor Koike told the city mayor, “I hope you will build a colorful section by leveraging the unique characteristics of each town.”

As part of its long-term “Tokyo 2025 Strategy” covering various fields, the TMG is also formulating promotional actions plans and urban development initiatives for the Tama region, she said.

 “We name Tama a ‘tama-tebako (treasure trove)’ of greenery because it is lush. We will turn it into a region overflowing with greenery. We hope to continue working together to that end,” the governor added.

Mayor Yamazaki commented about the decision on extending the monorail line, “It has given a great joy to us, the citizens, by bringing our long-cherished wish closer to a reality.” “We want to move forward by continuing to ask the TMG for various favors such as technological and financial assistance,” he said.