Two Tokyo Vice-Governors Resign, 7 Bureau-Chief Level Posts Replaced Simultaneously

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced personnel changes involving the resignation of two Vice Governors and a simultaneous reshuffle of core executive positions, including the Vice Governors, Director General of the Bureau of Waterworks, Director General of the Bureau of General Affairs, Director General of the Bureau of Policy Planning, and Director General of the Bureau of Public Health. These changes were notified as “Local Government Matters” in the Official Gazette (Kanpo) Extra Edition No. 177 (dated August 25, 2026), directly impacting the executive structure of the metropolitan government.

Resignation of Two Vice Governors and Appointment of Successors

Vice Governor Shoichi Kurioka and Vice Governor Akiko Matsumoto both resigned as of July 5, 2026. Accordingly, Tomohide Sato, Director General of the Bureau of General Affairs, and Akira Sato, Director General of the Bureau of Policy Planning, will be appointed as the successor Vice Governors on the same day (effective July 6).

• Shoichi Kurioka (Former Vice Governor) — Resigned July 5
• Akiko Matsumoto (Former Vice Governor) — Resigned July 5
• Tomohide Sato (Former Director General of the Bureau of General Affairs) — Appointed Vice Governor
• Akira Sato (Former Director General of the Bureau of Policy Planning) — Appointed Vice Governor

Simultaneous Reshuffle of Director General Positions

Following the promotions to Vice Governor, Director General-level positions will shift in a chain reaction. Noriko Abe, Director General of the Audit Secretariat, will be appointed as Director General of the Bureau of Waterworks; Tadateru Yamada, Director General of the Bureau of Public Health, will become Director General of the Bureau of Policy Planning; and Makoto Yamaguchi, Director General of the Bureau of Waterworks, will become Director General of the Bureau of General Affairs.

• Noriko Abe (Former Director General of the Audit Secretariat) — Appointed Director General of the Bureau of Waterworks
• Tadateru Yamada (Former Director General of the Bureau of Public Health) — Appointed Director General of the Bureau of Policy Planning
• Makoto Yamaguchi (Former Director General of the Bureau of Waterworks) — Appointed Director General of the Bureau of General Affairs
• Mizue Narabe (Former Staff Member, etc.) — Appointed Director General of the Bureau of Social Welfare
• Hideyuki Takasaki (Former Director General of the Bureau of Social Welfare) — Appointed Director General of the Bureau of Public Health

Impact on the Metropolitan Executive Structure

Triggered by the resignation of two Vice Governors, these changes constitute a large-scale personnel reshuffle in which the directors of the Waterworks, Policy Planning, General Affairs, Social Welfare, and Public Health bureaus are replaced simultaneously. In an unusual situation where two Vice Governors step down at once, the metropolitan government’s executive structure will transition to a new system. The appointment date for each position is July 6, 2026, as notified in the Official Gazette Extra Edition No. 177.

Source: Official Gazette Extra Edition No. 177 (dated August 25, 2026) “Tokyo Metropolitan Government Personnel Changes (Local Government Matters)” — Document reference 20260825h017750007 (published on the Official Gazette website).