Official

I have mentioned a little about the name Chuo-ku before, but

 

https://tokuhain.chuo-kanko.or.jp/detail.php?id=1230

 

　Recently, a referendum on the “Osaka City Abolition / Special Ward Establishment Plan” was held in Osaka City, and it seems that interest in special ward system, ordinance-designated city system, and administrative ward system has increased again. One of the reasons for the proposed establishment of a special ward in Osaka City is that the population of Osaka City is too large, so Osaka City is abolished and a special ward with a population of about 700,000, which is considered to be an appropriate administrative scale. It seems that it was to be divided into (also called the integration of administrative districts).

 

However, looking at the content that was being discussed, it seems that there is not enough examination of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the history and actual situation of the 23 special ward system, and my private opinion from Osaka City elementary and junior high school I am relieved that the referendum was rejected. As a matter of fact, the Special Ward Council, which consists of the 23 wards of Tokyo, has announced "the abolition of the Special Ward" in order to solve the adverse effects of the Tokyo system.

 

https://www.tokyo-23city.or.jp/chosa/tokubetsuku/research/kagai03.html

　

In terms of population alone, in the 23 wards of Tokyo, there has been considerable fluctuations since its establishment (1947).　Looking at the current population, as of January 1, 2020, the total population of Tokyo is 13.83 million and the total number of wards is 9.57 million, but by distinction, the maximum is 917,000 in Setagaya-ku and the minimum is 66,000 in Chiyoda-ku, and 168,000 in Chuo-ku, the second only after Chiyoda-ku. The second largest population after Setagaya-ku is 739,000 in Nerima-ku, 734,000 in Ota-ku, and 700,000 in Edogawa-ku.

 

However, one of the reasons why the former 35 wards were integrated into the current 23 special wards is that due to the war, there was a significant difference in the population and other aspects of each ward. That was what happened.

 

https://www.soumu.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/01soumu/archives/0714tokyo_ku.htm

 

More than 70 years have passed since then, there are significant differences in the population and other aspects of each ward, and it is natural that reintegration of the ward will be a problem.

　In that case, it is an interesting phenomenon that there is an enthusiastic opinion on the transition from a special ward to a "city" in Setagaya-ku, which has the largest population, and Chiyoda-ku, the smallest population.

　

In 1999, the Mori Memorial Foundation proposed "Tokyo as a six special cities" as a plan for the division and integration of the Tokyo metropolitan area. In this plan, the six special cities are Chiyoda City (Chiyoda-ku, Bunkyo-ku, etc.), Joto City (Chuo-ku, Koto-ku, etc.), Jonan City, Shibuya City, Shinjuku City, and Ikebukuro City.

 

http://www.tokyo23city-kuchokai.jp/katsudo/arikata/pdf/201002/to_shiryo1-2.pdf