The total number of cities, towns and villages in Japan is expected to be almost halved to about 1,700 as a result of moves by municipalities to merge by March 2005, when a special law promoting mergers expires, according to a recent Kyodo News survey.
The survey indicates an accelerated merger trend over the past eight months as a result of unified local elections, plebiscites and the approach of the law's March 31, 2005, expiry. A similar poll last October showed that the projected final total would be about 1,970.
The law allows special treatment for merging municipalities, including preferential tax treatment and guaranteed employment for municipal staff for certain periods of time. It will expire on March 31, 2005.