Could you share your vision for the kind of city Tokyo aspires to become as a global financial city?
Tokyo aims to become a leading city for sustainable and resilient finance, to financially support the realization of a sustainable, resilient society.
At the foundation of long-term sustainable growth lies safety and security. To achieve this, it’s imperative to strengthen resilience-the ability to flexibly overcome and adapt to challenges.
By leveraging Tokyo’s strengths, we will establish its position as a global financial hub where diverse financial players drive innovation through investment.
What are the main advantages or unique characteristics of your Special Zone that contribute to its appeal?
Tokyo is a megacity with an immense economic zone of approximately 35 million people and is distinguished as one of the world’s leading financial and capital markets. In 2025, 26 companies headquartered in Tokyo were listed on the Fortune Global 500, underscoring the city’s global corporate presence. In addition to these giants, Tokyo is home to around 420,000 small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as numerous universities and research institutions, making it a rich reservoir of business partners and highly skilled talent.
The city’s innovation ecosystem-driven by academia, research organizations, and global corporations-continues to attract international attention. A prime example is the SusHi Tech Tokyo event held in May 2025, which welcomed over 57,000 participants from around the world and facilitated a wide range of sessions and business negotiations.
Could you describe the types of companies your Special Zone is currently prioritizing in its support efforts?
To advance Tokyo’s position as a global financial city, we are actively working to foster innovation by attracting companies in the financial and green transformation sectors and facilitating business matching.
Supporting startups with new technologies and ideas is also a key priority. Since its opening in November 2023, Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB) has welcomed over 290,000 visitors.
TIB has become a vibrant hub for interaction among a diverse range of players-including domestic and international investors, companies, universities, and government agencies-hosting more than 1,200 events, including “TIB Global Day 2024,” which brought together stakeholders from 20 countries and cities around the world.
What would you like to say to businesses that are thinking about setting up operations in Japan or your Special Zone?
Tokyo is actively developing an environment where people from around the world can thrive-both in business and in everyday life. To support entrepreneurs looking to establish a presence in the city, Tokyo has streamlined all necessary procedures for starting a business, including visa acquisition, bank account setup, and company registration. These services are now available with English-language support, making the process more accessible to international founders.
Enhancing the quality of life for families is also a key priority. Tokyo is launching a new initiative that offers hands-on support for everyday matters, such as consultation services and accompanying people to banks and government offices. This personalized assistance aims to ease the transition for international residents. In the area around Tokyo Station, for example, plans are underway to expand international school offerings, further strengthening the city’s appeal to global talent.
Tokyo is ready to co-create innovation with the world. Let’s shape the future together.
