Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) submitted a project proposal in response to the “FY2025 Tokyo Metropolitan Citizens’ Project Proposal Initiative” introduced by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Bureau of Finance. Please note that the call for proposals has closed.

The Citizens’ Project Proposal Initiative is a new form of civic participation by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, designed to reflect the voices of citizens directly in policymaking by allowing them to both propose and select projects. Aimed at solving Tokyo’s urgent policy issues through fresh perspectives and novel thinking, FY2025 proposals were received between April 4 to May 30, 2025. Proposals encompassed a wide range of policy areas including support for marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting, youth support, disaster preparedness and community safety, women’s empowerment, decarbonization, and digital transformation.

Under this initiative, individuals aged 15 or older who reside, work, or study in Tokyo, as well as organizations and groups based in Tokyo, are eligible to submit proposals. Projects are expected to fall within a budget cap of 200 million yen (in principle, for a single fiscal year). Submitted proposals will undergo review by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and will be subject to an online public vote scheduled for late July. Based on the voting results, selected proposals may be incorporated into the FY2026 budget.

A Citizen-Driven Approach Harnessing Flexible Thinking to Address Tokyo’s Policy Challenges

In recent years, the environment surrounding the policy landscape in Tokyo has been changing at an unprecedented pace due to shifts in socio-economic circumstances, the worsening climate crisis, and rapid demographic aging. To address these evolving challenges, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government introduced this initiative. The goal is to reflect citizens’ perspectives directly into policymaking and encourage flexible thinking that goes beyond existing policy frameworks. At HGPI, we advocate for the strengthening of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) policies in Tokyo’s governance, recognizing that the usage of antimicrobials causes bacteria or pathogens to adapt over time and makes antimicrobial pharmaceuticals less effective. HGPI submitted a project proposal for this initiative that focuses on supporting AMR countermeasures at the local government level and raising awareness about the appropriate use of antimicrobial pharmaceuticals, particularly among families with young children. The summary of the proposal is as follows.

Project Proposal Submitted by HGPI Aiming to Prevent the Emergence and Spread of AMR

Theme 1: Push-Based Educational Support Model for AMR Countermeasures Leveraging Children’s DX
In alignment with Tokyo Children’s DX, HGPI proposed building a system to deliver push notifications providing information on AMR countermeasures, including the appropriate use of antimicrobial pharmaceuticals, to parents and caregivers. Given the ongoing issues with inappropriate antibiotic use in children, the project seeks to foster awareness by encouraging mindsets such as: “Even if medical care is free, unnecessary antibiotics should not be used.” It also aims to support the healthy growth of children and promoting sustainable healthcare and overall public health. This is done by encouraging behavior change among parents themselves, shaping habits that contribute to long-term well-being.

The project will provide easy-to-understand, timely information in a push-notification format, linked to key moments such as medical checkups, vaccinations, and benefit notifications. These notifications will encourage families to naturally incorporate accurate AMR knowledge into daily life. Looking ahead, HGPI also envisions establishing a comprehensive “Childcare Support Medical Health Information Registry” (tentative title) that consolidates AMR-related information along with other healthcare data for parents and children. By integrating this information into the existing childcare support registry (*), it will strengthen the foundation for more comprehensive child health and parenting support. These initiatives align with the national direction of digitalizing maternal and child health information and are expected to contribute to building a foundation for improving health literacy across society.

For more details regarding the initiative, please click here.

It is anticipated that Tokyo and other local governments will actively support learning and awareness initiatives by utilizing public relations magazines and official websites to feature special sections during November, which is designated as “AMR Awareness Month.”

(*) The registry refers to a comprehensive list of publicly available information on childcare-related benefits and consultation services provided by municipalities and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Given that various actors, including the national government, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and local municipalities, offer support programs, essential information for parents and caregivers is often scattered, leading to the risk of missing out on knowing, applying, or receiving necessary support. The registry was developed to address these challenges and, in collaboration with private app developers, proactively delivers relevant information tailored to the specific needs and circumstances of each user.