Osaka Statutory Council Holds 1st Meeting on Metropolis Plan

Osaka, June 12 (Jiji Press)–The Osaka prefectural and city governments Friday held the first meeting of a statutory council discussing a system for the so-called Osaka metropolis plan, with an eye toward an envisioned third referendum on the plan. Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura, who heads both the national political party Japan Innovation Party and affiliated regional political party Osaka Ishin no Kai, aims to hold the referendum next spring. The council’s 20 members consist of Yoshimura, Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama, who is vice head of the JIP, nine Osaka prefectural assembly members and nine Osaka city assembly members. While Osaka Ishin holds majorities in both the prefectural and city assemblies, assembly members of most non-Osaka Ishin parties opposed the establishment of the statutory council itself. The council will discuss how to replace the western Japan city with newly created special wards similar to those of Tokyo and what to name them. Once an agreement formed through the council’s discussions is approved by the prefectural and city assemblies, a local referendum will be held within 60 days of notice to the council. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]