A statement by the mayor of Tokyo in 2006
(Demonstrating the potential of the Tama and island areas)
Numerous leading companies, universities, and research institutions at the forefront of the era are concentrated in the Tama area, which supports the vitality of Tokyo in parallel with the ward district. Factories located here comprise just over 10% of Tokyo's factories but produce over 50% of the value of Tokyo's manufacturing output. This area is playing a major role in the industrial advancement of Tokyo and I have large expectations that the potential of this area will rise even further through progress in infrastructure development including the National Capital Region Central Loop Road (Ken-o-do).

Small and medium-sized enterprises support the industries in the Tama area, and in order to assist them on both the technological and managerial fronts we will aim to redevelop the former site of the Tokyo Metropolitan College into a full-fledged support base, which will include a center for exchange among industry, academia, and government by FY2009. In response to the characteristics of industry we will strengthen our technical assistance in the electronics and communications fields to further promote the industrial development of the Tama area.

On the occasion of my inspection tour of London, I visited the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea. This island is roughly the size of Awajishima Island in Japan and has a population of less than 80,000. It is well known worldwide for the international motorcycle race that runs on its public roads and dates back over 100 years. I was overwhelmed by the power of the motorcycles that sped along the public roads right past private residences at speeds of over 200 km per hour. I was also able to see and hear first hand how each and every resident has an enthusiasm for motor sports and how the entire island supports the race.

While at one time the Isle of Man struggled with a downturn in the number of tourists visiting the area, its per capita gross domestic product is now greater than that of the U.K. This was achieved through not just the race but by also luring IT industries to its shores and other unique industrial promotion policies. The islands of Tokyo have much to learn from these pioneering efforts, and I imagine that the mayors of both Miyakejima and Hachijojima Islands who accompanied me on this trip felt the same way.

I hope that the people of the islands will combine their efforts to take the first specific steps towards the realization of setting motorcycle races to ignite tourism in the area. The TMG will also actively support new development of the islands that makes the best of the creative originality of the local area.