Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, at the outset of his second four-year term on Wednesday, stressed that metropolitan government officials should act as a model for the nation.

Ishihara also cited beefing up security in the nation's capital as a priority. His comments followed a major police crackdown on undocumented foreigners in Shinjuku Ward on Tuesday night.

"We want to build a new model for bureaucrats from Tokyo," said Ishihara, who has long criticized the central government bureaucracy for its red tape.