Tokyo Governor Says "Bring Elon Musk to Japan" as Part of Plan to Boost Global Influence
Japanese pop culture news edited by Patrick Macias
On June 6, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike proposed inviting Elon Musk to Japan to attract massive investment and raise Japan's global profile.
In a speech to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, she also suggested relocating international organizations like the UN and WHO to Tokyo.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike made headlines during a June 6 press conference when she floated the idea of inviting billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk to Japan. Referring to Musk's past role as an advisor under former U.S. President Donald Trump in charge of government efficiency, Koike remarked, "Maybe we should consider inviting him to Japan."
Her comments followed a recent policy speech at the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly where she declared her intent to "restore Japan's presence on the global stage." As part of that vision, she proposed a dramatic shift in international diplomacy, suggesting that global organizations such as the United Nations Security Council, the World Health Organization, and the OECD relocate their operations to Tokyo.
When asked to clarify her remarks at the press conference, Koike explained that her proposal was intended to spark discussion. "This is a chance for Japan to reclaim its international presence. I wanted to provoke thought and conversation," she said.
She continued by calling on the national government to act boldly in uncertain times. "Now more than ever, we need the spirit to go on the offensive. Tokyo is ready to offer its full support," Koike stated.
Capping off her comments, she named Musk directly. "What Japan lacks most right now is investment on the scale of trillions of yen," she said. "That kind of bold capital injection is exactly what we need."
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