Hannan in Osaka to join merger study group with Izumisano and Sennan, outlets report
In short
Hannan city in Osaka Prefecture has decided to take part in a study group on a possible merger set up by Izumisano and Sennan, outlets reported on 21 and 22 October. The three cities had a combined population of about 205,000 to 206,000 at the end of September, above the 200,000 threshold for a core city. The group is due to start as early as January.
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Hannan city in Osaka Prefecture has decided to take part in a study group on a possible merger that Izumisano and Sennan cities are setting up. Sankei Shimbun and Nishi-Nippon Shimbun reported this on 21 October, citing people connected to the city. Nippon TV News carried the report on 22 October, citing people involved. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to Sankei Shimbun, the combined population of the three cities at the end of September was about 205,000, based on each municipality's resident register. Nippon TV News put it at about 206,000, with Izumisano at about 100,000 and Sennan at about 57,000. Both outlets said the total is above the 200,000 population requirement for a core city, a status under which powers such as setting up health centres are transferred from the prefecture. Sankei said a merger could therefore meet the core city requirement. [ 1 , 3 ]
Sankei and Nishi-Nippon, citing census data, put Hannan's population at the end of September at about 48,000, down about 10,000 from about 58,000 in 2000. Nippon TV News gave about 49,000, a fall of about 7 percent over the past five years. Sankei said that with the decline expected to accelerate, Hannan will join the talks to maintain resident services in the future. Nippon TV News gave the same reason. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Sankei said the study group is to be launched as early as January next year. At a meeting on 5 October on wide-area cooperation in the southern Senshu area, the mayors of Izumisano and Sennan announced the group and invited neighbouring municipalities to join, with merger as one option. Nippon TV News said that at a meeting held on 5 October the two cities disclosed they would begin considering a merger. [ 1 , 3 ]
Tajiri town will not take part, according to both Sankei and Nippon TV News. Kumatori town has held off on a decision, Sankei said. Nippon TV News said Kumatori has not stated its position and that its future course is being watched. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The outlets say Hannan is joining to keep resident services going as its population is expected to decline faster. A merger of the three cities could meet the population requirement for core city status, which transfers powers such as setting up health centres from the prefecture.
Key facts
- Hannan city in Osaka Prefecture has decided to take part in a study group on a merger launched by Izumisano and Sennan, according to people connected to the city. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The study group is to be launched as early as January next year. [ 1 ]
- The mayors of Izumisano and Sennan announced the group at a meeting on 5 October, and invited neighbouring municipalities to join. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The combined population of the three cities at the end of September was about 205,000 according to Sankei Shimbun and about 206,000 according to Nippon TV News. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The core city requirement is a population of 200,000 or more; core cities receive powers such as setting up health centres from the prefecture. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Tajiri town will not take part, and Kumatori town has not stated its position. [ 1 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Hannan plans to join the merger study group of Izumisano and Sennan, according to people the outlets spoke to. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The total population of the three cities exceeds 200,000, so a merger could meet the core city population requirement. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Hannan is joining in order to maintain resident services in the future as its population declines. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Tajiri town will not join the group, and Kumatori town is holding off on a decision. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Hannan's population at the end of September. Sankei Shimbun and Nishi-Nippon Shimbun give about 48,000; Nippon TV News gives about 49,000.
- Whether Kumatori town will join. Sankei Shimbun says the town is withholding its position, and Nippon TV News says it has not stated one.
- Whether a merger will go ahead. Sankei Shimbun says the mayors described merger as one option, and the documents report only that a study group is being formed.