The History and Reform of Japan’s Large City System: Focusing on Quantitative Simulation for Restructuring

Abstract

Japan’s large city system is founded on a dual-layer of local systems: prefectures and municipalities. Since the system’s establishment, there have been several discussions about reform. This study empirically examines the future directionality of reforming the large city system in reference to existing local systems.

First, the study describes the increase in the number of cities following the large-city system after World War II and outlines the process through which this system has gradually changed. Second, based on a deviation analysis using 10 variables that indicate the characteristics of a large city (population density, number of establishments, economic productivity, etc.), the study simulates two schemes to reorganize 149 cities with a population of 150,000 or more. Based on this analysis, the study concretely presents gradual solutions concerning the future of Japan’s large cities in association with existing local government systems.