Governor Attends Opening Ceremony for Artisanal Skills Event

On July 31, Governor Koike attended the opening ceremony of the “Monozukuri—A Celebration of Japanese Artisanal Techniques 2026” held at the Tokyo International Forum in Chiyoda Ward.

The governor said, “The value of techniques grounded in human sensibility and experience is something that cannot be dismissed as ‘It is outdated in the age of AI, isn’t it?’ I rather believe that such value has been elevated. The craftsman’s skills—created and refined by human hands—are a national treasure of Japan. The key to the future lies in the challenges young people take on and in the power of women, which represents our greatest potential.

“In this festival, we prepared a diverse range of programs, including live demonstrations by female technicians and a drone piloting experience to be assisted by students from Tokyo Metropolitan High School of Technology. I hope that a greater number of people, including young people and women, will take an interest in the world of techniques, and that as many future master craftsmen and women as possible will be born.”