An advisory panel recommended to Prime Minister Taro Aso on Tuesday that the government conclude its 10-year campaign to consolidate municipalities nationwide at the end of next March, government officials said.
While noting that the mergers have to a certain extent strengthened the administrative underpinnings of municipalities, the Local Government System Research Council suggested that the government allow municipalities that have been unable to merge to instead help each other in some administrative work.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.