Key Facts
• Osaka Metropolis Plan referendum may coincide with next year’s unified local elections.
• The plan involves abolishing Osaka City and establishing special wards.
• Ishin leader Hirofumi Yoshimura aims for a referendum by April 2027, before his term ends.
• On April 8, Yoshimura hinted at holding the referendum simultaneously with the unified local elections in spring 2027.
• Deputy Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama supports aiming for the referendum during the unified elections.
• Unified local elections include Osaka gubernatorial, mayoral, prefectural, and city council elections.
• Establishing a statutory council to discuss the plan is required before the referendum.
• Yoshimura insists the council’s establishment must be approved by Osaka City Council in May 2027.
• Ishin’s Osaka City Council members express caution, noting the plan was not a campaign promise in the last city council election.
• The council plans to hold town meetings to gather citizen opinions before deciding.
Summary
The Osaka Metropolis Plan, which proposes abolishing Osaka City to create special wards, faces a potential referendum alongside the unified local elections in spring 2027. Ishin party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura has indicated that holding the referendum separately before the elections is unlikely, aiming instead for a combined vote. Deputy Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama also supports this schedule to maintain a clear timeline. The unified elections will include key local posts such as governor, mayor, and council members. However, the plan requires forming a statutory council to discuss details, with its establishment needing approval from the Osaka City Council by May 2027. Ishin’s city council members remain cautious, as the metropolis plan was not part of their last election platform, and they intend to consult citizens through town meetings before making a final decision.
