Special cities of Japan
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| Administrative divisions of Japan |
|---|
| Prefectural level |
| Prefectures (都道府県 todōfuken) |
| Subprefectural level |
| Subprefectures (支庁 shichō) Designated cities |
| Municipal level |
| Core cities (中核市 chūkaku-shi) Special cities Special wards (Tokyo) |
Special Cities (特例市) of Japan are cities with populations of at least 200,000, and are delegated a subset of the functions delegated to core cities.
This category was established by the Local Autonomy Law, article 252 clause 26. They are designated by the Cabinet after a request by the city council and the prefectural assembly.
[edit] List
The following 39 cities have been designated Special Cities
- November 1, 2000
- April 1, 2001
- Hachinohe, Aomori
- Yamagata, Yamagata
- Mito, Ibaraki
- Maebashi, Gunma
- Takasaki, Gunma
- Kawaguchi, Saitama
- Hiratsuka, Kanagawa
- Fuji, Shizuoka
- Kasugai, Aichi
- Ōtsu, Shiga
- Toyonaka, Ōsaka
- Suita, Ōsaka
- Hirakata, Ōsaka
- Ibaraki, Ōsaka
- Yao, Ōsaka
- Neyagawa, Ōsaka
- Amagasaki, Hyōgo
- Kurume, Fukuoka
- Sasebo, Nagasaki
- April 1, 2002
- April 1, 2003
- April 1, 2004
- October 1, 2005
[edit] Former special cities now core or designated cities
- Hakodate, Hokkaidō Prefecture
- Became a special city on November 1, 2000; achieved the status of Core city on October 1, 2005.
- Shimizu, Shizuoka Prefecture
- Became a special city on April 1, 2001; on April 1, 2003 the city merged with the old core city of Shizuoka to form the new core city of Shizuoka; achieved the status of designated city of April 1, 2005
- Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture
- Became a special city of April 1, 2002; Redesignated on February 13, 2005 when the city merged with the former towns of Kikugawa, Toyota, Toyoura, and Hōhoku to form the new city of Shimonoseki; achieved the status of Core city in 2005.
