Written contribution / Contribution écrite
by / par

Kenichi HIRAI, Director of International
Affairs Division, Tokyo Metropolitan Government

Peace is the urban foundation

"The ideas and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of UNESCO/Les idées et les opinions exprimées dans cet ouvrage sont celles de l'auteur et ne reflètent pas nécessairement les vues de l'UNESCO

Tokyo has resurrected itself from the rubble and chaos following World War ?.. Thanks to the relentless struggle and efforts by the Japanese public, Tokyo has achieved a miraculous restoration and developed into an affluent city full of vitality. From this experience, we have a strong conviction that peace is the indispensable foundation of a city. This is because a city is created to provide its residents with happiness and an affluent lifestyle.

World peace is the major precondition for the development of cities. Cities around the world should join hands with their respective countries to contribute actively to the actualization and maintenance of peace. By promoting intra-city grass-root friendly exchanges, as well as international cooperation, we can deepen the understanding of cultures and lifestyles of other countries.

Need for mutual understanding to achieve peace

Based on this perspective, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has engaged in sister-city exchanges with 11 cities, including Moscow and Paris. The 11 cities and 20 other cities have organized the "World City Summit," with the aim to promote mutual understanding of their citizens. From now on, Tokyo also plans to join hands with the United Nations and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to assist international cooperation between cities and take on projects beyond simple sister-city exchanges, for example, solving environmental, traffic, waste, and other urban problems. Through this process, cities can build a practical mechanism for mutual cooperation. The objective is to contribute to the process of developing cities with sophisticated cultures and creativity, backed by world peace.

Current Tokyo from the cultural perspective

As a whole, Tokyo has a heavy concentration of both public and private cultural facilities, including national institutions. As many as half of Japan's theaters and halls are located in Tokyo.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government not only has its own cultural facilities, but also operates half-private cultural foundations, offering concerts of various types of music, specialized exhibitions, performances of Kabuki and other traditional arts, and supporting creative activities based on traditional arts, such as Noh. The city also provides financial assistance to international cultural exchanges and civic exchanges. In the fiscal 1999, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government plans to sponsor projects introducing overseas cultures, such as the Peking Opera, Greek theatrical performance, Peruvian folklore music, and Swedish theater, as well as projects introducing Japanese cultures to overseas and creative joint projects of an international scale.

The Tokyo International Film Festival, International Performance Arts Festival, and other international arts and cultural events, hosted in Tokyo, also receives sponsorship from the TMG.

As for classical music, Tokyo does not have its own tradition, unlike many other European cities. Despite that, people of Tokyo demonstrate a high interest in this area, as seen in the fact that there are nine professional orchestras in Tokyo. This figure must be among the highest when compared with other cities around the world. Music directors of these orchestras include prominent figures, such as Charles Dutoit, Gary Bertini, Gerd Albrecht, and Seiji Ozawa. The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra was established by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government itself.

High popularity of these orchestras make their concert tickets difficult to get. However, we would try and arrange some if you could ask us in advance. Make sure to enjoy their stunning performance.

Future cultural policies of Tokyo

In addition to various cultural projects implemented by the metropolitan government, Tokyo is also the stage for a wide range of cultural activities organized by the private sector. However, some point out that Tokyo does not have its own clear, identifiable cultural face.

This is why the "Visions for the City of Culture" have been compiled in January of this year, to make versatile approaches to the following tasks:

Enhancing the environment for creating arts and culture with a global perspective, and improving Tokyo's information dissemination capacity. More specifically, providing Tokyo's arts and culture information via the Internet, and linking international exchange projects by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, national government, and private sector, to promote cultural exchanges with overseas.

Creating the environment where anyone can associate with and participate in cultural activities comprehensively and profoundly.
More concretely, creating a mechanism for dispatching professional artists to amateur arts and culture organizations as instructors, so as to promote exchanges between artists and ordinary citizens at local cultural facilities.

Inheriting and developing traditional cultures, historical heritage, and landscape, which have been handed down through generations since the days of the Edo period.
More specifically, encouraging the discovery of local folklore arts, and providing support and assistance for efforts to preserve historical structures.

Creating a social mechanism for supporting culture.
That is, campaigning for the increase in tax deductible threshold of donations from businesses and individuals to arts and culture organizations, and improving the system for NPO and volunteer groups to take part in the operation of cultural facilities.

Developing cultural administration as part of the comprehensive urban policy, taking into consideration the financial effects of culture on the economy and the need to strengthen Tokyo's coordination ability as the Metropolitan Government. In detail, improving the Tokyo International Film Festival and other events with cooperation from the public, companies, and administration of Tokyo. Also, initiating a new fashion trend to be spread to the rest of the world, and promoting overseas exchanges linked to tourism policies.

Welcome to Tokyo

Tokyo has its distinctive folklore culture which has been developing for the past 400 years since the days of the Edo period. In addition, the city offers rich and versatile cultural activities, good food and drink, leading the trend of the time. We extend our sincere invitation for you to come and visit our city.