Acceptance of overnight treatment for asymptomatic and mildly ill people with COVID-19, a team effort with a sense of mission

Tokyu Hotels Co., Ltd.

Amid concerns about a shortage of hospital beds at medical institutions due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection, the Tokyo Toranomon Tokyu REI Hotel accepted asymptomatic and mildly ill patients for overnight treatment. We accepted a total of 201 patients in the FY^＊1 and 2,187 patients in the FY^＊2, for a total of 2,388 patients, contributing to the maintenance of the medical system. In the second phase, we were also entrusted with auxiliary tasks^＊3 that were previously handled by metropolitan government employees in order to cover their workload and staff shortages. In addition, the provision of hotel-made boxed lunches for the enjoyment of food, as well as the in-house announcements and telephone-answering service in English for foreign patients, were gratefully received as unique hotel service initiatives not found in other medical treatment facilities. The expertise in dealing with Covid-19 that the hotel staff acquired as one team, while being attentive to the feelings of those recovering from it, formed a valuable knowledge pool to refine better hotel services with/after Covid-19.

＊1 April 16, 2020–June 30, 2020

＊2 August 17, 2020–March 31, 2021

＊3 Guiding patients when they enter and leave the hospital, assisting with emergency transport, entering medical history and medication data of recuperating patients, and disposing of contaminated waste

Tokyo Port City Takeshiba, an international business hub: Building a green network

Tokyu Land Corporation

Tokyo Port City Takeshiba, which opened in September 2020, has created a green network by drawing elements of the surrounding lush greenery (the former Shiba Rikyu and Hamarikyu Gardens) and the sea (Tokyo Bay) into the building. We are creating new value for the entire city by reducing the environmental impact through initiatives unique to smart buildings that utilize cutting-edge technology. The skip terrace, where many people relax and engage in activities, has a green space, and the walls facing the Metropolitan Expressway have large-scale wall plantings to reduce reflected solar radiation by about 30%. This contributes to the mitigation of the heat island environment. In addition, we plan to reduce the annual consumption of drinking water by about 5% through urban flood control and rainwater utilization, using a multi-stage rainwater storage and infiltration system of about 600 m3 throughout the building. The annual reduction of CO₂ is 110 tons in greening and 10,253 tons in environmentally-friendly design (reduction rate 39.64%). In addition, eight other biodiversity conservation initiatives, such as beekeeping, and environmental education were implemented. These efforts won the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s First Green Infrastructure Award in the Urban Space category.

Growing lettuce with hydrogen energy! Japan’s first hotel with a CO₂-free electricity recycling system

Tokyu Hotels Co., Ltd.

The Kawasaki King Skyfront Tokyu REI Hotel has begun efforts to continue and evolve the use of hydrogen energy derived from used plastics, for which it received the Environmental and Social Contribution Award at the first Tokyu Group Environmental and Social Contribution Awards. Hydroponic cultivation of lettuce using electricity derived from hydrogen energy takes place in the hotel lobby. The lettuce is harvested in half the usual time and served at the buffet. In addition, the hotel has achieved a 100% recycling rate by providing food waste, an issue for the hotel, to the power generation facility as raw material for biomass power generation. In addition, we have established a recycling system in which the electricity generated is bought back by the hotel through a power sales company. For other electric power, the 100% renewable energy plan Zero Emi Plan®* has been introduced. Japan’s first electric power CO₂-free hotel has been created, with 30% of the total electric power provided by hydrogen energy and 70% by renewable energy. The amount of CO₂ reduction is about 419 tons per year (equivalent to about 47,600 cedar trees), contributing to the creation of a decarbonized and recycling-oriented society.

＊This is an environment-conscious electricity supply plan that uses FIT electricity as the power source and non-fossil certificates and J-credits to achieve 100% renewable energy.

Tokyu Line Platform Screen Door Installation Project - Peace of mind at every station

Tokyu Railways

We completed the installation of platform screen doors and fixed platform fences with sensors at all stations* on the Tokyu Lines in March 2020. Although there had been debate in the railway industry about the pros and cons of installing platform doors due to their high cost, Tokyu Railways decided to become the first major private railway company to install platform screen doors at all stations, based on the belief that providing safe and secure railroad services is a social responsibility that the company should fulfill. In addition to transporting the platform doors in batches using nighttime trains and adopting a method of reinforcing the embankment platforms to shorten the construction period, the  Den-en-toshi Line has replaced six-door cars with four-door cars to eliminate the difference in door positions, thereby achieving early installation and reducing construction costs. As a result of the concerted efforts of all related parties, both inside and outside the company, the number of falls from homes decreased significantly, from 131 in FY 2014 to 5 in FY 2020. In addition, this and other efforts to provide safe and secure railroad services were highly evaluated, and the company received the Prime Minister’s Award, the highest award, at the 2020 Barrier-Free and Universal Design Promotion Awards.

＊ Excluding the Setagaya Line and Kodomonokuni Line

Strengthening the area around Shibuya Station as a disaster prevention base by developing rainwater harvesting facilities

Tokyu Corporation

As part of the Shibuya Station Area Land Readjustment Project, the construction of rainwater harvesting facility at the east exit of Shibuya Station was completed and put in use on August 31, 2020, with the aim of creating a safe and secure community that is resistant to flood damage. The construction of this facility started in February 2011 to solve the problem of rainwater accumulation around Shibuya Station due to its mortar-shaped topography. The project proceeded with meticulous coordination of the construction work among the parties involved, including the various businesses and the governmental agencies with jurisdiction, with great care taken to avoid any impact on the ground. The facility is located at a depth of about 25 meters below the East Exit Plaza of Shibuya Station. It is a large-scale structure measuring approximately 45m north–south and 22m east–west and is capable of storing 4,000m3 of rainwater. Water is taken when the hourly rainfall is 50 mm or more and is discharged to the sewage trunk line after the severe weather passes. The water storage tank is divided into sections to allow storage according to the amount of rainfall, limiting the scope of cleaning, and a drop shaft (spiral channel) is used to reduce the momentum of rainwater inflow and prevent deterioration of the bottom of the facility.

Sharing of surplus equipment and revolution in waste utilization

Tokyu Railways

With the aim of reducing CO₂ emissions by promoting recycling and reducing waste, we list surplus equipment managed at each workplace and distribute it to all workplaces so they can share equipment. There are 4,000 items registered on the share list, ranging from consumable supplies such as erasers to large furniture and fixtures such as conference tables and chairs, bringing the total number of items shared to 680 (as of the end of May 2021). We believe that this initiative will not only reduce the cost of collecting more than 6 tons of waste materials per year from the station, but will also greatly contribute to reducing the amount of waste and promoting recycling. The sharing of surplus equipment is not limited to stations but has been expanded to 42 workplaces throughout the Railway Business Division by utilizing horizontal collaboration. This is being promoted by the whole Company. As a related initiative, we are planning to hold a Tokyu Railways Treasure Market to collect and sell unused railroad equipment and goods scheduled to be discarded at each workplace.

《 Social Contribution Fields 》

Cooperation in cleaning instruction and vocational training for schools for the disabled

Izukyu Housing Corporation

We have been teaching cleaning work at a local school for the disabled and accepting students for vocational training since 2006. In the cleaning instruction at the school for the disabled, we work together with the students on specific tasks, such as cleaning windows and toilets, and instruct them on the content of the work and precautions to take. This helps the students to acquire work skills that they can use in their future professional and family lives. In the vocational training program, the students experience vacuuming, garbage collection, bed-making, and other tasks in the hotel for about 10 days. Students wear the same uniforms as our company employees, and the work experience at a familiar place with instructors contributes to the promotion of career education for children who will be the leaders of the future. These efforts are also aimed at raising awareness of the employment of the physically challenged in the community, which will help revitalize the local community and attract more people to work for our company.