Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, leader of the local party Osaka Ishin no Kai (association of Osaka reform), and Osaka Prefecture Gov. Ichiro Matsui have begun fleshing out the mayor's idea of establishing an Osaka metropolitan government modeled after the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

As the idea raises serious issues concerning local autonomy, Osaka city and prefectural residents should carefully scrutinize the mayor and governor's moves, and strive to have their own views reflected in the final plan.

Mr. Hashimoto's main aim in creating an Osaka metropolitan government is to eliminate an overlapping of administrative work between the Osaka city government and the Osaka prefectural government.