Q. What kind of place is Tokyo?

A.Tokyo is the capital of Japan and the country's political, economic, and cultural center. Tokyo's gross metropolitan product (GMP) is as large an economy as the gross domestic product (GDP) of a single country. Compared to other major cities in Japan, wages in Tokyo are high, about 1.2 times the national average.
The city has the largest number of headquarters of Japanese companies as well as foreign-affiliated companies operating in Tokyo, and universities and research institutes are also concentrated in the area, with many foreign nationals actively working here. Tokyo is also highly regarded as a city for living, with top-class safety in terms of its medical and health facilities and infrastructure on a global scale. In recent years, as part of our efforts to reform the way people work, we have focused on promoting "life-work balance" and are working to create a system that allows people to value not only their work but also their personal lives.

Many corporate headquarters
are gathered here.

About half of all Japanese companies are headquartered in Tokyo, and the city is home to a wide variety of companies, including major corporations that are leading names all over the world as well as venture enterprises launched by young people, among others. About 99% of the companies in Tokyo employ 300 or fewer employees, making them small- and medium-sized enterprises. These small- and medium-sized enterprises play an important role in supporting the economic development of the huge city of Tokyo, as their presence contributes to launching new business and technology.

Tokyo attracts diverse people from around the world.

Of the approximately three million foreigners living in Japan, approximately 600,000, or 20% of foreign residents with diverse nationalities and cultures, live in Tokyo. Over the past 10 years, the number of foreign residents has increased by nearly 150%, and as globalization continues to progress, expectations for foreign residents are increasing as valuable members of the global city of Tokyo.
FY2023

Tokyo—a base for research
and development

Tokyo is home to many universities and research institutions affiliated with the Japanese national government or with local governments, and a lot of research and development of advanced technology and related fields is conducted here. Additionally, many joint research projects are carried out here with government or private sector support. The city of Tokyo is heavily involved in the development of Japanese industry.

Global city with international competitiveness

Tokyo has long been ranked among the top cities in the "Global Power City Index," which evaluates the world's 48 major cities in six categories: economy, research and development, culture and exchange, livability and environment, transportation, and accessibility. In particular, the city is highly regarded in the areas of research and development, economy, and cultural exchange and continues to develop as the no. 1 city in Asia.
"Global Power City Index 2023" (Mori Memorial Foundation's Institute for Urban Strategies)

Tokyo, an attractive city with a safe and secure lifestyle

In the 2021 edition of the "Safe Cities Index" published by The Economist magazine, Tokyo ranks as the 5th safest city in the world. Among the evaluation items, Tokyo ranks 1st in the world for the safety of its medical and health environment and 5th in the world for the safety of its infrastructure, making it a safe and secure city in which to live.
"Safe Cities Index 2021" (The Economist)

Source: Industry and Employment in Tokyo
－ A Graphic Overview －