The assemblies of seven prefectures in and around the Kinki region have approved a plan to form a federation for the purpose of cooperating on certain administrative matters. Home affairs minister Yoshihiro Katayama is expected to approve the establishment of the federation in about a month in accordance with a provision of the Local Autonomy Law.
There have been federations in the past at the municipal level to do such jobs as jointly administering nursing care services. This is the first broad prefectural-level federation.
Five prefectures in the Kinki region — Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Shiga and Wakayama — and two nearby prefectures — Tottori and Tokushima — will form the federation. Nara Prefecture has decided not to join, saying the federation's work will duplicate that of the prefectural government.