Japan's local governments and governance under population decline

Abstract

This chapter aims to provide a brief overview of Japan’s local government system, including an examination of the significant challenges they face. The local government system operates on a two-tiered structure, with prefectures serving as regional governments and municipalities serving as local governments. This chapter focuses primarily on the municipal level of government. First, a brief historical background of Japan’s modern local government system is provided. Second, the author reviews the fundamental institutional characteristics of Japanese local governments, including size, responsibilities, and public finance. Third, the focus shifts to leadership selection in Japanese local governments and their different challenges. Fourth, characteristics of local civil servants are explained, focusing on their personnel system. The fifth section delves into the latest nationwide municipal merger reform and discusses results of empirical studies on its effects. The sixth section refers to demographic challenges many local governments have been facing. Finally, the last part of the chapter concludes with suggestions for future research avenues.