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From Meiji to Heisei, what shocking moments did Japan experience through the merger of cities, towns and villages? Historical changes you would never have imagined!
In Japan's history, the merger of cities, towns and villages has been an integral part of the modernization process. Since the Meiji era, these mergers have not only been a simplification of administration, but also reflected profound changes in social structure, economic conditions, and residents' needs. This article will explore significant moments in municipal mergers and their impact on Japanese society.
The first wave of mergers
First, the Meiji Great Merger that took place from 1888 to 1889 was the starting point of the history of mergers of cities, towns and villages in Japan. At that time, many spontaneously formed villages were incorporated into larger administrative areas, a change that reduced the number of existing villages from 71,314 to 15,859. These actions were justified as increasing the size and relevance of local governments.
"The merger during the Meiji period was not only a change in the law, but also a reshaping of the social structure."
Transformations during the Showa Period
From 1953 to 1956, Japan experienced another large-scale merger wave - the "Showa Great Merger". The purpose of this wave of mergers was to support national finances, and the resulting treasury subsidy system significantly changed the operating model of local governments. As a result of the merger, the number of cities, towns, and villages decreased from 9,868 to 3,472, with 5,000 villages disappearing quietly.
Modern challenges and promotion
Towards the end of the 20th century, as Japan experienced a decline in birthrates and deteriorating economic conditions, the central government began to promote the consolidation of cities, towns and villages. According to statistics, by 2006, the population of many villages was less than 200 people. With local government debt now at 40 percent of gross domestic product, Japan’s economy is facing growing scrutiny over local governance and the use of public facilities.
"The merger of cities, towns and villages is not only a simplification of numbers, but also a necessary way to improve the efficiency of public services."
Merge Implementation Process
Financial incentives for mergers were strengthened following the passage of an amendment to the Special Act on Municipal Mergers in 1999. For example, after the merger, the original subsidies will remain unchanged. Such policies effectively promote the process of voluntary mergers. The government aims to reduce the number of municipalities to 1,000, a strategy that, while not mandatory, has encouraged local governments to merge.
Prosperity during the Heisei Great Merger Period
From 1999 to 2010, Japan experienced the so-called "Heisei Great Merger", during which the number of cities, towns and villages decreased from 3,232 to 1,727. The merger at this stage is not only a natural administrative adjustment, but also an important choice to face future challenges. Among them, 188 mergers still showed the tension between local autonomy and integration capacity.
“We are not just creating larger cities and towns, we are rebuilding local history and identity.”
New challenges in naming
The naming of new municipalities also poses challenges and sometimes derails merger talks. In many cases, the larger city name is given priority, but in cases of similar size, the debate over city names can be quite heated. In order to reach a consensus, some places choose to merge several place names, or borrow more famous place names in the surrounding areas for extension.
Future Prospects and Criticisms
While the potential benefits of the merger cannot be ignored, there are also many criticisms. Many local governments are highly dependent on central government funding and are often accused of wasting resources. After the merger, the size of some municipalities’ councils increased dramatically, leading to poor legislative performance. According to research, some cities that have experienced mergers have performed below expectations in terms of proposal and legislative effectiveness.
Behind the merger, although some successful cases demonstrate the potential of regional cooperation, most of the merged projects find it difficult to gain recognition from local residents. In the future, how to better integrate and create local characteristics will be another challenge facing Japanese cities and towns.
