Kanagawa Gov. Shigefumi Matsuzawa advocates creation of an unprecedented regional administrative system that would deal with issues affecting the multiple prefectures and municipalities that constitute greater Tokyo.
Proponents of the idea hope to kick-start discussions when officials representing the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the prefectures of Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba, and the city governments of Yokohama, Saitama, Chiba and Kawasaki, meet later this month.
Matsuzawa's proposal has thus far not won over many local government leaders in the region. Skeptics point out that the prefectures and municipalities are at odds over major issues, including expansion of Tokyo's Haneda airport and environmental protection.