Tokyo Residents and University Researchers Propose Business Ideas for Public Voting

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is launching an initiative to gather business proposals from residents and university researchers, enabling them to vote on the ideas presented. The program has already garnered significant interest, with a total of 1,094 proposals submitted by residents and 35 from university researchers. As part of the voting phase, the government has shortlisted 12 resident proposals and 8 from universities for public consideration.

Overview of the Voting Process

Residents of Tokyo are encouraged to participate in this public voting process, which seeks to engage the community in shaping the future of their city. Here are the key details:

Who Can Vote?

To cast a vote, individuals must be at least 15 years old as of April 1, 2023, and currently reside in Tokyo. However, certain individuals, such as Tokyo Metropolitan employees and assembly members, are restricted from voting.

How to Vote

Voting can be conducted online or via postal mail. Here’s how:

- Online Voting: Voters can access the voting form through the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Finance's official website.

- Visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Voting Page to proceed.

- Postal Voting: Download the voting form from the linked website and send it to the designated address:

- Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Finance, Accounting Department, Budget Division: 2-8-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 163-8001.

Each resident is permitted to vote once, with the option to submit up to three votes for both resident and university proposals. Additionally, residents can provide feedback on the proposals by suggesting improvements alongside their votes.

Voting Period

Voting will commence on July 31, 2023, at 2:00 PM, and will close on August 31, 2023, at 11:59 PM. It is imperative that postal votes arrive by the deadline.

Overview of Proposed Projects

The shortlisted projects cover various community-focused areas, from promoting children’s meals to environmental education. Some noteworthy project descriptions include:
1. Promotion of Children’s Cafés: Enhancing awareness and accessibility of children’s cafeterias.
2. Support Programs for People with Aphasia: Creating a supportive structure for those with speech disorders to engage in society.
3. Awareness of Dementia Safety: Campaigns aimed at disseminating information on preventing disappearances of elderly individuals suffering from dementia.
4. Women’s Empowerment Campaign: Developing multimedia content to promote gender equality in the workplace.
5. Healthy Housing Initiatives: Developing resources that help multi-child families find suitable housing.

Each project reflects a community-centric approach, aiming to improve resident welfare and the overall quality of life across Tokyo.

Additional Notes

- Proposal submitters may be subject to changes in their project details based on the outcomes of the implementation discussions.
- Individual responses regarding the voting results will not be provided.
- During the voting period, project proposers are prohibited from publicly announcing their proposals or encouraging voting.
- Voters will bear any costs associated with participating in the voting process, whether online or by mail.
- Personal data handling will comply with the relevant privacy regulations to ensure confidentiality and security.

This initiative represents a unique opportunity for Tokyo residents to have a direct say in the business proposals that will shape their community. The government is eager to receive a strong turnout to foster collective decision-making and collaboration.