It was a busy 2019 for Kansai, particularly in the days leading up to the June Group of 20 leaders summit in Osaka. While the Tokyo Olympics will be the focus of much of the nation's attention in 2020, here are some major issues that will impact Kansai next year:
A referendum on the merger of the city of Osaka: After years of stalemate between the local chapters of all major political parties and Osaka Ishin no Kai (One Osaka) over the wisdom of a merger, the anti-merger Liberal Democratic Party was hit with tough losses in April's Osaka municipal and prefectural elections. The LDP and Komeito changed their stance as a result and agreed to hold a referendum over whether to combine Osaka's 24 wards into four large wards with more autonomy and abolish the current city assembly.
Osaka Mayor Ichiro Matsui is aiming to have a referendum proposal put to the public sometime in autumn next year. Will it pass? A previous effort in 2015 failed by the slimmest of margins. Many younger Osakans with small businesses, as well as large corporations, support a merger in the hope that it may lower taxes and boost bureaucratic efficiency. Opponents warn that supporters are overstating the economic benefits and suspect that all a merger will do is widen the economic gap between the wealthier northern and central parts of Osaka and the less prosperous southern and bay area districts. Both sides will spend most of 2020 presenting their arguments and counterarguments. The result could once again be close.