Timeline

2010

June

Comprehensive Special Zone System positioned as a new national strategy for growth

2011

June

Comprehensive Special Zones Act established

September

Regional Council for the Asian Headquarters Special Zone created
Tokyo Metropolitan Government applies to Japanese government to designate Special Zone for Asian Headquarters as a Comprehensive Special Zone for International Competitiveness based on the Comprehensive Special Zones Act

December

Special Zone for Asian Headquarters designated as Comprehensive Special Zone for International Competitiveness

2012

March

Public relations activities to attract foreign companies to Tokyo's Special Zone conducted at the MIPIM, the World's Property Market exhibition, held in Cannes, France/li>

April

Shibuya Hikarie completed
International education classes at Higashimachi Elementary School established by Minato City

May

JP Tower completed in the Marunouchi district

June

Public Wi-Fi service in Nishi-Shinjuku district starts
Public relations activities to attract foreign companies to Tokyo's Special Zone conducted at the ACHEMA2012 (World Exhibition Congress on Chemical Engineering, Environmental Protection and Biotechnology) exhibition held in Frankfurt, Germany

July

Vision for Tokyo's Special Zone for Asian Headquarters announced
Investment tax credit for R&D centers within the Special Zone areas starts

August

ARK Hills Sengokuyama Mori Tower completed in Roppongi district

September

Investment tax credit for regional headquarters within the Special Zone areas starts
The length of time business jets can stay at Haneda Airport extended from 7 days to 10 days
Shinjuku Eastside Square completed

October

Business Development Center Tokyo, one-stop English-speaking consultation desk for foreign companies expanding into the Special Zone, opened in Marunouchi district
Otemachi Financial City, including FINE Tokyo and St. Luke's MediLocus, completed

November

Act for Promotion of Japan as an Asian Business Center enforced
Public relations activities to attract foreign companies to the Special Zone conducted at the MEDICA2012 (International Trade Fair and the Congress for Medical Technology, Electromedicine, Laboratory Equipment, Diagnostics and Drugs) exhibition held in Dusseldorf, Germany
Presentations on the Special Zone project to foreign embassies in Tokyo conducted

December

Procedures completed to make cellular phone calls possible on the Toei Oedo Subway line (excluding the section between Tocho-mae station and Hikarigaoka station)

2013

January

Public relations activities to attract foreign companies to the Special Zone conducted at the International CES (Consumer Electronics Show) held in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.

March

Aim for Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School to be the first metropolitan high school to receive authorization as an International Baccalaureate school announced by the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education
Tokyo Square Garden completed in the Kyobashi district.

April

Preferential tax treatment including corporate enterprise tax exemption started
Full-fledged activities to attract foreign companies to the Special Zone launched

May

Seminar to promote establishment of high value-added sites (Asian headquarters and R&D centers) held at Otemachi Financial City

June

Presentation on Tokyo's Special Zone project given at the "Smart City in Japan" seminar in Berlin

July

LinkedIn page created by Business Development Center Tokyo
Tokyo's Special Zone for Asian Headquarters website renewed
Kameda Kyobashi Clinic , which offers consultation in foreign languages, opened within the Tokyo Square Garden

August

First phase completion of Otemachi Tower in the Otemachi district

September

Proposal concerning the National Strategic Special Zones to the central government submitted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Taiwan's Council for Economic Planning and Development learns about the Special Zone
Ark Hills South Tower completed in the Roppongi district

October

Urgent request for laws related to the National Strategic Special Zones submitted by the TMG to the central government
Change of Tokyo's Special Zone plan approved by the central government (expansion of the special zone area)
One-on-one meetings with foreign companies conducted at ITPro Expo 2013

November

Change of Tokyo's Special Zone plan approved by the central government (addition of deregulation measures, etc.)
- One-way passenger transport services between Haneda and the MICE facilities is realized
- Special exception for immigration procedures (quicker immigration process and simplified documents) launched
Public relations activities to attract foreign companies to the Special Zone conducted at the Twelfth Plenary Meeting of Asian Network of Major Cities 21 in Hanoi

December

Japan's three megabanks agree to work on a system to allow foreign credit card users to withdraw cash at ATMs ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

2014

January

Presentation conducted on Tokyo's Special Zone at the "Arrows to Japan: The Road to Business Success" symposium held in London

February

Muromachi Koga Mitsui Building and Muromachi Chibagin Mitsui Building completed in the Nihombashi district
Kyobashi Trust Tower completed in the Nihombashi district

March

TMG compiled a proposal to the central government called "Tokyo's Special Economic Zone for Global Innovation"
TMG successfully attracted 11 foreign companies to establish their operational headquarters or R&D centers in the Special Zone, surpassing the fiscal 2013 goal of 10 companies

April

Business Development Center Tokyo relocated to JP Tower
Invest Tokyo Seminar held at Jiji Press Hall

May

Tokyo designated as one of the National Strategic Special Zones
Governor Masuzoe spoke about Tokyo's proposal for the special economic zone at the Foreign Press Center/Japan
Change of Tokyo's Special Zone plan approved by the central government (addition of exceptional measures to regulations and a tax system to promote capital investment )
- Granting "Intra-Company Transferee" status of residence to employees of a foreign company who are in Japan to prepare for the opening of a branch office, etc.
- Special addition of points as highly advanced personnel to foreigners employed at companies dealing in operational business and research and development business, etc.
- Special measures on taxation applied to cases where companies newly acquire or construct large assembly facilities, etc.
Toranomon Hills completed in the Toranomon district

July

Calls launched for applications for subsidies supporting the development of a living environment for foreigners
Invest Tokyo Seminar in NY: Ride Tokyo's Momentum held at the Nippon Club in　New York

August

Tokyo's Special Economic Zones website renewed

October

First meeting of the National Strategic Special Zone Council for the Tokyo Area held

November

Invest Tokyo Seminar to promote the Business Development Center Tokyo held

December

Second meeting of the National Strategic Special Zone Council for the Tokyo Area held
Tokyo ranks 3rd overall among 24 global megacities in the Financial Times' Global Cities of the Future 2014/15
Tokyo Area's Special Zone plan (National Strategic Special Zone) approved by the Prime Minister (Special provision to the Act on Special Measures concerning Urban Reconstruction / Special provision to the Specified Mixed Medical Care Coverage System / Special provision to the Medical Care Act concerning hospital bed regulations / Establishment of the Tokyo Employment Consultation Center)

2015

January

Change of Tokyo's Special Zone plan (Comprehensive Special Zone for International Competitiveness) approved by the central government
(Addition of redevelopment projects to the Business Environment Securing BCP (Business Continuity Plan) projects / Deregulation measures (project promoting the acceptance of highly skilled foreign professionals))
Tokyo Employment Consultation Center established

February

Invest Tokyo Market Entry Seminar held
Ad to attract foreign direct investment to Tokyo's special economic zone placed in the bulletin of the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Banner ad to attract foreign direct investment to Tokyo's special economic zone placed on the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan website

March

Third meeting of the National Strategic Special Zone Council for the Tokyo Area held
Tokyo Area's Special Zone plan (National Strategic Special Zone) approved by the Prime Minister (Special provision to the City Planning Act / Special provision to the Road Act concerning area management / Special provision to the Specified Mixed Medical Care Coverage System / Special provision to the Medical Care Act concerning hospital bed regulations / Establishment of the Tokyo One-Stop Business Establishment Center)
Tokyo One-Stop Business Establishment Center Opening Ceremony held held with the attendance of Prime Minister Abe and Governor Masuzoe
TMG achieves its fiscal 2014 goal, successfully encouraging 20 foreign companies to establish their regional headquarters or R&D centers in the special economic zone

April

Tokyo One-Stop Business Establishment Center established
Business Development Center Tokyo branch office relocates to the JETRO headquarters
Invest Tokyo Seminar 2015 held
Tokyo Nihombashi Tower completed in the Nihombashi district

June

Fourth meeting of the National Strategic Special Zone Council for the Tokyo Area held
Vice Governor Maeda gives a presentation at the National Strategic Special Zones Symposium
Tokyo Area's Special Zone plan (National Strategic Special Zone) approved by the Prime Minister (Special provision to the City Planning Act / Special provision to the Road Act concerning area management / Special provision to bilateral agreements on foreign doctors)

July

Invest Tokyo Seminar 2015 in London held

August

Tokyo Area National Strategic Special Zone expanded to cover the entire area of Tokyo

September

Fifth meeting of the National Strategic Special Zone Council for the Tokyo Area held
Tokyo Area's Special Zone plan (National Strategic Special Zone) approved by the Prime Minister (Special provision to the City Planning Act / Special provision to the Notary Act concerning certification of articles of incorporation by a notary outside the notary office)

October

Tokyo One-Stop Business Establishment Center launches services for certification of articles of incorporation by a notary at the center
Sixth meeting of the National Strategic Special Zone Council for the Tokyo Area held
Tokyo Area's Special Zone plan (National Strategic Special Zone) approved by the Prime Minister (Special provision to the Inns and Hotels Act / Special provision to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act) (Special provision to the Inns and Hotels Act / Special provision to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act)
Tekko Building completed in the Marunouchi district