Tokyo ranked third for a ninth consecutive year in the Global Power City Index released by the Mori Memorial Foundation on Tuesday.

London and New York retained the top two spots, at first and second place respectively, while Paris came in fourth and Singapore, fifth, also the same as last year.

The report showed improvements in Tokyo’s overall score this year, significantly narrowing the gap with New York. Gains were made in four categories: research and development, cultural interaction, livability, and accessibility. However, Tokyo's score declined in the economy category.

Osaka climbed two spots to 35th, driven by improvements in accessibility and livability ahead of the 2025 World Expo, along with significant gains in international travel indicators, according to the report. Fukuoka remained steady at 42nd.

The 2024 rankings evaluated 48 cities across six criteria — economy, research and development, cultural interaction, livability, environment, and accessibility.

Recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly influenced international mobility, corporate activity, and work styles, the report said.

With the resumption of global travel, all cities in the report saw increased international air passengers, with notable rebounds in Asian cities such as Tokyo and Shanghai, which also experienced significant growth in domestic flights, the report noted.