Japan Starts Talks on Proposed Local Govt Cooperation Law

July 6, 2018

Tokyo- A Japanese government panel on Thursday started discussions on proposed legislation to facilitate cooperation among municipalities to maintain their services for local residents amid population drops.

The Local Government System Research Council, which advises the prime minister, will also discuss how to adapt municipal assemblies to cope with serious shortages of local residents willing to join the assemblies due to depopulation.

Japan will "face an unprecedented situation around 2040 because its population is set to age rapidly and decrease significantly," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a council session.

"I want you to have wide-ranging discussions and come up with concrete solutions to problems" that are expected to happen by around that year, Abe told the first plenary session of the 32nd conference of the council.

The session came after an internal affairs ministry study group said Tuesday that it would be difficult for individual municipalities to maintain all of their current services. The team also called for creating bigger administrative zones that will bring municipalities together.

The council will conclude its discussions and make recommendations to the prime minister within two years.

The 32nd conference has 30 members, including experts, lawmakers and representatives of local governments. Sumitomo Forestry Co. President Akira Ichikawa was elected chairman by mutual vote. Jiji Press