JP

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
September
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
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
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
September
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
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
March
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
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
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