On the 1st, a referendum on the pros and cons of the “Osaka Metropolitan Concept” was voted to abolish the government-designated city of Osaka and reorganize it into four special zones. The opposition beat approval by a small margin and the survival of the city of Osaka was decided. In the second referendum since 2015, the Restoration was hit once again by no.

Ichiro Matsui, the mayor of Osaka (56), the representative of the promotion group Osaka Restoration Association, called for the “elimination of dual administration” in the streets every day, “Osaka is recognized in the world as a big city together with Tokyo, like Osaka together Let’s do it. “

Opponents like the PLD insist that there is concern about the financial deterioration due to the concept of the city. “Resident service will decrease and Osaka citizens will lose money,” he said.

In the early stages of the election, opinion polls from each company showed that supporters were dominant, but in the final stages of the election, the opposition gained momentum. Unlike regular elections, street speeches are possible on voting day, so each party kept a microphone in town for one day. In the Meiji Restoration, Mr. Matsui and Acting Representative Hirofumi Yoshimura, Governor of Osaka Prefecture (45), stayed on the streets and continued to make “last requests” until the time of the voting deadline, but the complaint did not come.

◆ Osaka Metropolitan Government Proposed in 2010 by Toru Hashishita, who served as governor and mayor of the prefecture. The plan is to abolish the government-designated city of Osaka and reorganize it into a special district similar to the 23 districts of Tokyo. Wide area management, such as growth strategy, will be unified in Osaka prefecture, and special districts will be responsible for services to residents. If approved by majority, the city of Osaka would be abolished on January 1, 2013, and if the government-designated city were abolished, it would be the first time since the system was established in 1956. The special zone was a plan to reorganize into four special zones, “Yodogawa”, “North”, “Central” and “Tennoji”.

◆ Restoration In April 2010, Toru Hashishita, Governor of Osaka Prefecture, formed the regional political party “Osaka Restoration Society” with the concept of Osaka. He became a representative. In November 2011, Mr. Hashishita was elected mayor and Mr. Ichiro Matsui was elected governor in the “double election” atop Osaka city. In September 2012, Mr. Hashishita formed the national political party “Japan Restoration Society”. June 2014, divided party. In May 2015, the Osaka Metropolitan Government was rejected by referendum. Mr. Hashishita announced his retirement from the political world. After that, the Restorative Party split. He formed a new national political party “Osaka Restoration Society”. In August 2016, the name of the national political party was changed back to “Japan Restoration Society”.