October 15, 2009

Japanese Communist Party member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Furudate Kazunori has demanded that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government use the 400 billion yen reserved as funds for hosting the 2016 Olympic Games to improve citizens’ living conditions.

On October 14 at a meeting of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Special Committee on Audit, Furudate pointed out that due to Tokyo’s unsuccessful 2016 Olympic bid, it is unnecessary for the Tokyo government to maintain the reserve fund of 400 billion yen, and said, “Tax money reserved for the Olympic Games should primarily be earmarked for improving citizens’ living conditions.”

An official of the Tokyo government finance department in his reply said, “After discussing Tokyo’s bid from various points of view, including whether to try again or not, we will make an appropriate decision to use the funds for further development of Tokyo and improvement of Tokyo citizen’s livelihoods.
- Akahata, October 15, 2009