5 prefectures, 6 major cities in Japan want 'secondary capital' status: Mainichi survey

Eleven local governments, including five prefectures and six ordinance-designated cities, have expressed interest in obtaining secondary capital status to serve as a backup for Japan's main capital in case of major disasters, according to a Mainichi Shimbun survey. The Cabinet is expected to release a Cabinet order that outlines the specific requirements for such designation as early as late October.

Some other local governments are also contemplating applications, which could lead to increased cooperation and competition among cities vying for the designation. One of the potential criteria for designation is either a cooperation agreement between a prefectural government and an ordinance-designated city or the creation of special wards following the abolition of an ordinance-designated city.

Out of the 35 local governments surveyed in July and August, five prefectures - Hokkaido, Aichi, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka - and six ordinance-designated cities - Sapporo, Nagoya, Osaka, Sakai, Fukuoka, and Kitakyushu - stated their intention to seek secondary-capital status. In Osaka Prefecture, which is currently planning to abolish the city of Osaka and reorganize it into special wards, Sakai has also expressed its desire to apply for the secondary-capital designation.

While some local governments have expressed support for the secondary-capital law, others have indicated that they are still considering their stance or are neutral on the matter.