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On December 7, 2017, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the ceremony for the completion of the Marunouchi Plaza at Tokyo Station, in the presence of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan.

The Prime Minister said in his congratulatory address,

“Today, I would like to offer some congratulatory remarks on the occasion of this ceremony to commemorate the completion of the Marunouchi Plaza at Tokyo Station, in the presence of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan.

Tokyo Station is the origin of Japan’s railways. As the terminal for a railway network spanning 30,000 kilometers nationwide, Tokyo Station has been transited by countless people through the years.

Tokyo Station also has a deep connection to the Imperial Household. Since opening in 1914, the gate for distinguished visitors located on the front side of the Marunouchi station brick building has been used for excursions by members of the Imperial Family, including for visits by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan.

Looking back, Tokyo Station has followed the same course as Japan’s modern history. Gyoko-dori Street, built as part of the recovery efforts from the Great Kanto Earthquake, served as a symbol of recovery at the time. At the end of World War II, Tokyo Station was the terminal for trains carrying demobilized soldiers. The ‘Super Express of Dreams Hikari’ bullet train departed Tokyo Station for the very first time in 1964, the year that the Tokyo Olympic Games were held.

In 2020, Tokyo will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games once again. It is extremely timely that this highly dignified urban landscape was completed in the heart of Tokyo today, with less than 1,000 days remaining until the event that will be at the center of the world’s spotlight. The Olympic and Paralympic Games will present an excellent opportunity to share the appeals of Japan with the world.

We have set a goal to attract 40 million visitors per year by 2020. For this reason, we will be welcoming many foreign tourists and visitors both domestic and international. I hope this new gateway will certainly fulfill its role as a new hub of hospitality in Japan and will be passed on to future generations.

In closing, I would like to express my respect for the hard work of everyone involved in this major project. I hope that Tokyo Station will continue to be beloved by all people who use it for many years to come.”