The Asian Network of Major Cities 21 (ANMC21) has established a wide range of training programs in specialized categories targeted at member city policy administrators and technical specialists. On this occasion, we will introduce two programs: "the Support with the Formulation of a Comprehensive Plan for Public Transport" (hereinafter "transport training") and "the Training and Joint Research in Connection with Urban Planning with Strong Resistance to Earthquakes" (hereinafter "earthquake training") conducted from July 9 to 12, 2013 in Tokyo.

The Bureau of Urban Development of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) provided the transport training and earthquake training programs. This year, transport training welcomed a total of three participants from Bangkok and Jakarta, while earthquake training was conducted for a total of four participants from Bangkok, Delhi, and Jakarta.

(1st Day of Training)

Participants were welcomed to their training programs on the 1st Floor of TMG Building. Despite concern that some participants might be running late, everybody managed to arrive before the appointed time. Tokyo was then just emerging from the rainy season, and the day was very hot with a temperature in excess of 35℃. At that time of year, people in Tokyo adopt what is called "cool business" fashion, working without suit jackets or neckties. Despite the heat, however, some participants arrived at the venue resplendent in jackets and neckties.
Once everybody had gathered, the party moved to the office of the Director of the Bureau of Urban Development, where a opening ceremony was conducted. At the outset of proceedings, the Director welcomed everybody in English, Thai, and Indonesian, and the atmosphere became very relaxed.

After the opening ceremony, training started for all participants with a lecture on urban development in Tokyo. After this, the transport training program and the earthquake training program were conducted separately.

In transport training, participants took part in a session on the basic concept of public transport planning in Tokyo, and on field inspections they would undertake from the following days. In earthquake training, participants received lectures regarding changes to the earthquake resistance code in Japan, and regulations to promote the seismic retrofit of buildings along emergency transportation roads.

At the end of the 1st day, , a welcome party was held at the canteen on the 32nd Floor of TMG Building. In the relaxed atmosphere, all participants actively interacted each other. After the party, some participants ascended to the observatory on the 45th Floor. This observatory can be visited free-of-charge from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. From this platform, visitors have a spectacular view including Tokyo Sky Tree and Tokyo Tower. On clear days, you can also see Mt. Fuji.. When you come to Tokyo, we would encourage you to visit there!

(2nd & 3rd Days of Training)

Transport Training:
The second day of transport training started with a lecture on Tokyo's bus operations and the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) system. In the explanation of Tokyo's bus operations, participants were surprised when they heard of the lack of subsidies, but that rather the cost of operations was covered by fares-derived income.
After the lecture, participants caught the subway from Shinjuku to Kasai in order to visit the Tokyo Subway Museum. While receiving a briefing from a museum guide on the history of Tokyo's subways, etc., participants inspected subway shielding machinery and models of rail infrastructure, etc. They then traveled on a Shuttle Seven bus equipped with the Public Transportation Priority System (PTPS). The next destination was Tokyo Station, where participants received a briefing from a JR East guide on the restoration of Tokyo Station, and they also inspected facets of the station restored to their original state. After participants had received a briefing from a TMG Staff on both changes to the city plans for areas surrounding Tokyo Station, and on Gyoko Street which connects the station and the Imperial Palace, participants inspected the surrounding environs themselves. Gyoko Street is a historical boulevard that also has special functions including being used by the royal family for public occasions, and for parades of foreign ambassadors who are driven to the palace by horse-drawn carriage to present their credentials. In fact, some two hours before participants arrived, a foreign ambassador had ridden along the boulevard to present their credentials. Participants were shown photos of this event.
The third day started with participants presentations. The first was from Bangkok on an outline of the city's transportation system including Bangkok monorail. Next up was a presentation on transportation in Jakarta. Then participants had a fruitful discussion period, openly sharing their knowledge and thought about current transport challenges and polices.

After the participant presentations, the program shifted to Shiodome Station on the Toei Oedo Subway Line. Here, participants rode the New Transit "Yurikamome" which runs without a driver while being controlled by computers. Participants then travelled to Tokyo Sky Tree by Metropolitan Bus, where they received a briefing on the tower and the surrounding area.

Earthquake Training:
The second day of earthquake training started with lectures on measures to formulate a disaster-resilient city, and on the field inspections participants would undertake. After the lectures, participants went to the Life Safety Learning Center in Ikebukuro by bus. On the way, they travelled along an emergency transportation road, a subject of the previous day's lecture. At the center, participants had an opportunity to experience the magnitude of the Great East Japan Earthquake via the earthquake simulator. They were left speechless by the intensity of the tremors, and then commented that earthquake preparedness was indeed a very important topic. Afterwards, they visited the Shinjuku Center Building and received a briefing on the seismic repair work being undertaken. They also observed the facilities, and this concluded the second day of earthquake training.

The third day started with lectures on the measures for Close-set Wooden Housing Districts, and on the topic of disaster recovery planning. After the lectures, participants visited the TMG Disaster Prevention Center. In the event of a disaster, this center will become the response headquarters of the TMG, and via cameras established in locations such as on the roof of the TMG Buildings and Rainbow Bridge, etc., at the center it is possible to see real time feeds on large screens. When participants visited these facilities, the cameras on the roof of the TMG Buildings were zoomed in on Tokyo Sky Tree, while a camera on the Rainbow Bridge was zoomed in on the Tokyo Gateway Bridge. Due to the intense heat, the image feed swayed gently. During times of disaster, Tokyo has a unique system whereby footage taken by cameras on Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and Tokyo Fire Department helicopters can be downloaded real time to maps on computer screens. When actually shown previously-shot footage, participants were very impressed with this system.

After the inspection, participants made presentations at the training venue. Firstly from Bangkok there was a presentation on disasters that paid special attention to fire-related issues and their resolution. Next was Delhi, with particular attention paid to both the preparedness for disaster and an outline of the large-scale evacuation drill for natural disasters. Finally there was Jakarta on urban planning incorporating disaster management: disasters and active seismic faults in Indonesia, future plans regarding the handling of flood zones surrounding Jakarta, seismic hazard maps, and earthquake preparation. Then participants had a discussion period, sharing their knowledge about the challenge relating disaster management and urban planning. After the presentation session, participants unable to attend the final day of training were presented with their training completion certificates.

(4th Day of Training)

On the final day of training, transport training participants received a briefing on public transportation systems in Asian cities, while earthquake training participants had a briefing on the disaster prevention policies of Asian cities. Then, with a closing ceremony, the four-day training programs were successfully concluded. At the ceremony, the Director General of the Bureau of Urban Development praised participants' hard work, and the participants thanked the kindness of the TMG staff members, while commenting that the training itself was highly valuable.