Japan's Population Decline Drives Municipal Mergers, Kasumigaura City Council Passes Merger Resolution
Kasumigaura City in Ibaraki Prefecture is seeking a merger under the 'Reiwa Merger' initiative as population decline threatens municipal services. The city council has passed a resolution to proceed. The move comes roughly 20 years after the Heisei Great Mergers, which halved the number of municipalities in Japan, and reflects renewed concerns over sustainability as the population rapidly shrinks.
The number of municipalities in Japan roughly halved at the peak of the Heisei Great Mergers, and about 20 years have passed since then. In recent years, news of municipal mergers has rarely been mentioned, but against the backdrop of rapid population decline, many local governments worry that resident services may become unsustainable. Kasumigaura City in Ibaraki Prefecture, located on the shores of Lake Kasumigaura, Japan's second-largest lake, is one such example. Due to concerns about municipal operations falling into difficulties, the city is attempting to find a way out through a 'Reiwa Merger'. The Kasumigaura City Council has passed a resolution to authorize the merger.