Tokyo Vice Gov. Toshiyuki Akiyama "will fill in for Naoki Inose," who announced his resignation as governor Thursday, as the city "prepares to launch an organizing committee early next year for the 2020 Olympics," according to KYODO. At a meeting Friday, Education and Sports Minister Hakubun Shimomura and Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda "confirmed that Akiyama will take charge of Olympic-related matters for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government until February’s gubernatorial election." Shimomura said, "We agreed the three of us will continue preparations with speed and briskness ... (and) to pick a managing director as soon as possible" (KYODO, 12/21).
EMERGENCY PLAN: JIJI reported the Tokyo Metropolitan Government "is set to advance efforts to draw up evacuation plans" for the 2020 Olympics after a key panel last week pointed out a 70% likelihood of a "large earthquake striking the capital 'within 30 years.'" The report released last week by the Central Disaster Management Council "apparently urged Tokyo to take steps." Some 10 million people "are expected to flock to the capital to witness the sporting spectacle" (JIJI, 12/22).
