Considerations on the Systems of Urban Governance for Large Cities in Japan & Western Countries

Abstract

In Japan, large cities like Kyoto and Osaka are governed by directly-elected monopodial mayors (chief executives), with only one elected representative responsible for major decision-making, including collaborative urban governance in partnership with residents and many other stake-holders. In France, for instance, quasi-cabinet-type groups of elected councillors practically carry out executive functions of large cities. A similar collegial system, in fact, was adopted by Japan in the Meiji-era, but abandoned after World War II and simply forgotten until now. The author discusses merits and demerits of current and past systems of urban governance by comparing them with European practices, then proposes that large Japanese cities return back to collegial governance so that multiple elected representatives are responsible for the administration of public affairs and are able to develop potential abilities for better urban and national governance.