Interview: The Role of International Schools in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s “Global Financial City” Initiative

Director Fujimura: There are two main reasons behind this initiative.
The first is Tokyo’s goal of increasing the number of highly skilled foreign professionals living in the city to 50,000 by 2030 as part of its “Global Financial City: Tokyo” vision.

The second is Tokyo’s designation by the Japanese government as a Special Zone for Financial and Asset Management in June 2024.

Fujimura: Yes. Achieving that goal requires more than making Tokyo a place where business can be conducted in English. It also means creating a city that offers a truly global standard of living.

While our section focuses on promoting Tokyo as a global financial city, we recognize that attracting highly skilled foreign professionals depends not only on business opportunities but also on the quality of everyday life.

One of the most important elements is education. Ensuring access to high-quality international schools for their children is therefore a key part of our strategy.

Fujimura: While the financial sector is a key focus, we are targeting a broad range of highly skilled professionals, including researchers, university professors, and IT engineers.

Although our goal of attracting 50,000 highly skilled foreign professionals by 2030 is ambitious, we are making steady progress toward achieving it.

Fujimura: It is an important factor.

Highly skilled professionals overseas often view Japan very positively, particularly because of its safety. However, when they begin planning their move to Japan, they often face challenges such as finding available places at international schools for their children and overcoming language barriers.

Some international schools in Tokyo already have waiting lists, showing that demand is outpacing supply.

There are also families willing to pay high tuition fees for an education whose quality justifies the cost.

Fujimura: There is particularly strong demand for schools with outstanding curricula and proven university placement records. While the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is not targeting any specific type of school, we do believe that reputation is an important factor.

Well-known schools that parents overseas immediately recognize and trust are a major advantage in attracting highly skilled professionals to Tokyo.

Fujimura: Of course, we would welcome them.

While Tokyo already has a relatively large number of preschools for younger children, we see particularly strong demand for middle and high schools, especially those with a strong track record of preparing students for admission to overseas universities.

Fujimura: We recognize that securing suitable land and facilities is one of the biggest challenges, and we are exploring every possible option to address it.

For example, we are examining the use of metropolitan government-owned land and working with municipalities across Tokyo to identify available sites, including former school properties that could be repurposed for international schools.

Fujimura: Repurposing former school buildings can significantly shorten the time required to open a new campus compared with developing a site from scratch.

From an urban development perspective, we are also strengthening collaboration with developers.

We support efforts to incorporate international schools into large-scale private development projects as part of creating new communities.

Fujimura: We have commissioned a private-sector partner with extensive international networks and deep expertise in the education sector to provide this support.

Services range from initial consultations and market analysis to feasibility studies, including financial projections, as well as assistance with identifying local partners and promotional activities for schools planning to establish a campus in Tokyo.

Fujimura: No. The program is also open to existing international schools looking to expand, school corporations planning to launch new schools, and even developers interested in entering the education sector.

Even if you are simply exploring the possibility and are unfamiliar with Japan’s legal framework or education market, we encourage you to contact us through our website. We are happy to provide guidance from the earliest stages.

Fujimura: Tokyo is strengthening support not only for education, but for every aspect of daily life.

We have established concierge-style services to help international residents with procedures such as opening a bank account and completing administrative paperwork, so that language does not become a barrier.

Tokyo is a safe city, and within an hour of the city center, residents can also enjoy rich natural areas such as Okutama. Our goal is to make Tokyo a city where people can live with confidence while accessing a world-class education.

We hope international professionals and their families will look forward to coming to Tokyo.

We also encourage overseas education providers to recognize the potential of the Tokyo market and work with us to expand and strengthen the city’s international school sector.