Osaka Ishin no Kai proposes names for new special wards

The Osaka Ishin no Kai has proposed specific names for the four special wards intended to be established under the “Osaka Metropolis Plan,” which seeks to abolish Osaka City. The proposed names for two of the wards are “Yodogawa-ku” and “Tennoji-ku.” For the remaining two wards, the party plans to conduct further surveys to choose between “Kita-ku” or “Umeda-ku,” and “Naniwa-ku” or “Chuo-ku.” The party aims to hold a resident referendum on April 11 next year.

Critics and experts have raised concerns regarding the transparency of the proposal. Some argue that the official name of the council discussing these changes, the “Council for a Metropolitan System Suitable for the Sub-capital Osaka,” may mislead citizens into believing the referendum is solely about achieving “sub-capital” status rather than the fundamental abolition of Osaka City. Experts warn that the administrative burden of dismantling the current city structure while simultaneously developing sub-capital functions could be contradictory and difficult to manage.