Tokyo Metro and JR East Tokyo 2020 Official Partners
Tokyo Metro and JR East signed a contract with the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games on June 7, becoming Official Partners of Tokyo 2020.
The contract category is "Passenger Rail Transport Services," with the contract period running until December 31, 2020. They will be able to use the Tokyo Games name and mark, and will support the Olympic and Paralympic Movement and Japanese athletes.
JR East President Tetsuro Tomita stated, "Ahead of the Tokyo Games, we aim to further enhance safety and security for all passengers, including persons with disabilities and the rapidly increasing number of international travelers." Regarding the Games' theme of recovery from the Tohoku earthquake disaster, he added, "As an operator with business areas in the affected regions, we want to further expand initiatives that contribute to recovery, such as promoting tourism and attracting international visitors."
Tokyo Metro President Mitsuteru Oki stated, "As an Official Partner, we aim to fulfill the roles of 'Tokyo's guide,' conveying the city's appeal, and 'the connector of the Tokyo metropolitan transportation network,' providing smooth services. By making the subway easy to understand and comfortable to use, we will strive to ensure visitors to Japan can fully enjoy Tokyo, thereby enhancing the brand power of Tokyo as an international city."
Organizing Committee Chairman Yoshiro Mori remarked, "It is tremendously reassuring that two railway companies highly regarded worldwide have become partners. Their stations are particularly concentrated around the new National Stadium, making them indispensable for smooth spectator movement and crucial for access to venues in neighboring prefectures. We aim to collaborate with both companies to ensure safe and secure transportation." He also mentioned considering the issuance of new transportation cards designed for convenience as a concrete example of this collaboration.
Regarding the Paralympics, President Oku mentioned expanding station elevators, installing platform doors, and promoting multilingual signage. President Tomita expressed a commitment to not only barrier-free facilities but also "mental barrier-free" initiatives like the "Voice Support Campaign." Japan Paralympic Committee Chairman Mitsunori Torihara commented, "We expect facilities and services tailored to the various types and degrees of disabilities."
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