抄録
This research is the analysis of the characteristics of changes in the awareness of regional linking around the prefecture borders by the municipal merger. The analysis is based on the changing patterns of municipal areas after the merger and the questionnaires. The followings are the findings of the study. 1) The awareness of regional linkage became weaker around the mountainous area when the prefecture border areas were expanded by the municipal merger. 2) There are hub cities born around the border areas by the municipal merger. These hub cities tend to connect to each other crossing the borders. 3) In case of the hub cities, there are some differences in the degree of awareness toward the regional linkage between the old central municipality, which is not by the border, and other old municipalities of the border area. 4) In case of Hamamatsu city, which is typical example of 3), the dwellers of the old municipalities near the border area tend to have the awareness of promoting the regional linking even after the merger. They expect to have the regional linking with hub cities over the border as their partners. In mountain areas, which are far from the central district, the dwellers expect the local ward office to perform the government works across the border.
