Governor’s Address at TMG Executive Meeting

On January 30, 2026, Governor Koike attended the executive meeting at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government office and addressed senior management as follows:

Forward

Today, we have finalized the budget and organizational staffing proposals for FY2026. I extend my sincere appreciation to everyone involved in this effort, especially the Bureaus of Finance and General Affairs. I would like to offer a few remarks on this occasion.

Turning Anxiety into Assurance and Hope

This year began with dramatic developments around the world. International politics, along with interest rates and stock markets, have shifted at an unpredictably volatile pace. AI, robotics, and other technological innovations continue to advance far beyond expectations.

Amid these rapid global changes, I am more convinced than ever that maintaining the status quo will only lead to decline.

This is precisely why we must transform the growing anxiety people feel about the future into assurance and hope. This is our most urgent task. 

The Great Wave of Change Is an Opportunity for Growth

As I said in my New Year's address, we must view this powerful wave of transformation as an opportunity to reshape Tokyo and Japan. The Tokyo 2050 Strategy is our guiding framework in this effort.

As we finalize next fiscal year's budget and organizational staffing, let us rigorously apply the PDCA cycle. For initiatives progressing well, we will raise our targets; for those needing further advancement, we will enhance and strengthen measures. Additionally, to keep pace with the evolving environment, we have added 16 new policy goals, bringing the total to 312.

Through this strategy, we aim to navigate today’s turbulent times with both strength and flexibility, building a sustainable society supported by genuine growth potential.

A Budget and Implementation Framework for a Bright Future

The FY2026 budget—totaling 9.653 trillion yen—is designed to “fully harness Tokyo’s strengths to swiftly and effectively advance the Tokyo 2050 Strategy and realize a bright future.” It includes a wide range of initiatives to evolve Tokyo into a safe city where people shine, brimming with vitality, based on a new perspective attuned to the changes of the times.

At the same time, rigorous project evaluations to enhance efficiency and effectiveness have secured a record-high 135 billion yen in financial resources. The cumulative total in the 10 years since I took office has now reached 1 trillion yen.

Regarding staffing, we have ensured the necessary personnel to advance strategies for realizing “Tokyo, the best city in the world.”

With this budget and implementation framework in place, I ask for swift and steady execution of policies.

Working with the National Government to Spearhead Solutions for Japan

Last year, Tokyo finally surpassed New York in the Global Power City Index, rising to second place. The top city, London, is just around the corner. This demonstrates that your unified efforts to advance progressive policies—often at the nation’s forefront—are steadily bearing fruit.

Meanwhile, the pace of global change continues to accelerate. At this critical juncture for Japan, Tokyo's role is more important than ever. The other day, I met Prime Minister Takaichi, and we agreed to establish a new consultative body between the national and the metropolitan governments. This body will discuss local taxation issues and also enhance alignment between national strategies and metropolitan priorities, including measures for the declining birthrate, capital protection, and digitalization. It will work on initiatives that strengthen Tokyo as a global city, and we share the view that this will contribute to enhancing Japan’s national power. 

Going forward, Tokyo will continue to lead Japan's transformation.

In Conclusion

These are turbulent times. Ultimately, as the nation’s capital, our responsibility is to find solutions and take action for the people of Tokyo and Japan. 

Above all, it is essential that Tokyo residents genuinely feel that “tomorrow will be better.” I ask each of you to be constantly aware of ways to reliably deliver the results of our policies to the people.

Let us move forward together, boldly paving the way toward a bright future and making Tokyo the world's greatest city—a place where everyone can shine.

That concludes my remarks. Let's do our best.