Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura has suggested the possibility of making another bid for a so-called Osaka metropolis plan, an idea rejected twice in local referendums. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/13/japan/politics/ishin-osaka-metropolis-plan/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #osaka #nipponishinnokai #localgovernment

The total amount of "furusato nо̄zei" hometown donations to local governments across Japan hit a record high for the fifth consecutive year in fiscal 2024, the internal affairs ministry said Thursday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/01/japan/hometown-donations-record-high/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #furusatonozei #taxes #localgovernment

Maki Takubo, mayor of the city of Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture, on Thursday withdrew her resignation over allegations that she had lied about her academic record. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/01/japan/politics/ito-mayor-decides-not-to-quit/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ito #shizuoka #makitakubo #localgovernment #universities

The number of local governments able to operate without tax allocations from the state thanks to their abundant tax revenues has increased for the fourth consecutive year, the internal affairs ministry has said. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/29/japan/society/local-governments-tax-allocations/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #localgovernment #taxes #internalaffairsministry #kumamoto

Japan has held the first meeting of its panel tasked with reviewing guidelines on how companies and local governments should respond to emergency information on a possible earthquake in the Nankai Trough. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/25/japan/nankai-trough-quake-info-guidelines-review/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #nankaitrough #earthquakes #localgovernment

Prefectural governors have urged the central government to give top priority to measures against Japan's shrinking population, calling for a national campaign involving private companies. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/24/japan/politics/japan-governors-meet-population/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #localgovernment #population #taxes #consumptiontax #aomori #2025upperhouseelection

The industry ministry is working to promote cooperation between private firms and local governments to ensure a stable supply of nursing care and elderly support services as demand increases in the graying country. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/23/japan/society/nursing-care-public-private-cooperation/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society#nursingcare #localgovernment #elderly

Work to consolidate public facilities is gaining momentum amid a growing need to make more efficient use of public spaces like city halls and libraries as Japan's population continues to fall. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/16/japan/consolidating-public-facilities/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #localgovernment #depopulation #disasterpreparedness

Japan established a consortium comprising the national and local governments and private-sector companies with the goal of fostering female digital experts. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/08/japan/politics/female-digital-experts-launch/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #digitalization #localgovernment #wakakoyata

The government plans to study how food trucks owned by local governments and dispatched to serve hot meals following disasters can be used at other times. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/01/japan/disaster-food-trucks-expansion/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #food #trucks #localgovernment #disasterpreparedness