core cities of Japan

A {{Nihongo|core city|中核市|Chūkakushi}} is a class or category of Japanese cities. It is a local administrative division created by the national government.Web-Japan.org, [http://web-japan.org/factsheet/en/pdf/e10_local.pdf "Local self-government", p. 3]; retrieved 2012-11-28. Core cities are delegated many functions normally carried out by prefectural governments, but not as many as designated cities. To become a candidate for core city status, a city must have a population greater than 300,000 and an area greater than 100 square kilometers, although special exceptions may be made by order of the cabinet for cities with populations under 300,000 but over 200,000.{{cite web|url=http://nippon.zaidan.info/seikabutsu/1999/00168/contents/145.htm |script-title=ja:日本財団図書館（電子図書館）ＲｅｖｉｓｅｄＬｏｃａｌＡｕｔｏｎｏｍｙＬａｗ|website=nippon.zaidan.info}} After the abolition of special city status on April 1, 2015, any city with a population above 200,000 may apply for core city status.{{cite web |url=http://www.soumu.go.jp/cyukaku/ |script-title=ja:日本總務省 - 中核市・施行時特例市 |website=soumo.go.jp |language=ja}}

Application for designation is made by a city with the approval of both the city and prefectural assemblies.

History

The term "core city" was created by the first clause of Article 252, Section 22 of the Local Autonomy Law of Japan.{{cite web|url=http://nippon.zaidan.info/seikabutsu/1999/00168/contents/143.htm |script-title=ja:日本財団図書館（電子図書館）ＲｅｖｉｓｅｄＬｏｃａｌＡｕｔｏｎｏｍｙＬａｗ|website=nippon.zaidan.info}}

List of core cities

As of 1 April 2021, 62 cities have been designated core cities:

class="wikitable sortable" width=80% style="font-size:100%;" align=center
Name ! Japanese ! Flag ! Emblem ! Area (km²) ! Population (2012) ! Date of designation ! Region ! Prefecture !Map
Akashi \| {{lang\|ja\|明石市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Akashi, Hyogo.svg \| 49.22 \| 290,927 \| 2018-04-01 \| Kansai \| Hyōgo \| File:Akashi in Hyogo Prefecture Ja.svg
Akita \| {{lang\|ja\|秋田市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Symbol of Akita, Akita.svg \| 906.07 \| 322,224 \| 1997-04-01 \| Tōhoku \| Akita \| File:Akita in Akita Prefecture Ja.svg
Amagasaki \| {{lang\|ja\|尼崎市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Amagasaki, Hyogo.svg \| 49.77 \| 451,353 \| 2009-04-01 \| Kansai \| Hyōgo \| File:Amagasaki in Hyogo Prefecture Ja.svg
Aomori \| {{lang\|ja\|青森市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Aomori City Emblem.svg \| 824.61 \| 297,348 \| 2006-10-01 \| Tōhoku \| Aomori \| File:Aomori in Aomori Prefecture Ja.svg
Asahikawa \| {{lang\|ja\|旭川市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Asahikawa, Hokkaido.svg \| 747.6 \| 351,765 \| 2000-04-01 \| colspan="2" \| Hokkaidō \| File:Asahikawa in Hokkaido Prefecture Ja.svg
Fukui \| {{lang\|ja\|福井市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Fukui, Fukui.svg \| 536.41 \| 266,612 \| 2019-04-01 \| Chūbu \| Fukui \| File:Fukui in Fukui prefecture Ja.svg
Fukushima \| {{lang\|ja\|福島市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Fukushima, Fukushima.svg \| 767.72 \| 289,355 \| 2018-04-01 \| Tōhoku \| Fukushima \| File:Fukushima in Fukushima Prefecture Ja.svg
Fukuyama \| {{lang\|ja\|福山市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Symbol of Fukuyama Hiroshima.svg \| 518.14 \| 462,144 \| 1998-04-01 \| Chūgoku \| Hiroshima \| File:Fukuyama in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Funabashi \| {{lang\|ja\|船橋市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Funabashi, Chiba.svg \| 85.62 \| 610,492 \| 2003-04-01 \| Kantō \| Chiba \| File:Funabashi in Chiba Prefecture Ja.svg
Gifu \| {{lang\|ja\|岐阜市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Gifu, Gifu.svg \| 203.60 \| 412,718 \| 1996-04-01 \| Chūbu \| Gifu \| File:Gifu in Gifu Prefecture Ja.svg
Hachinohe \| {{lang\|ja\|八戸市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Symbol of Hachinohe Aomori.svg \| 305.56 \| 241,613 \| 2017-01-01 \| Tōhoku \| Aomori \| File:Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture Ja.svg
Hachiōji \| {{lang\|ja\|八王子市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Hachiōji, Tokyo.svg \| 186.38 \| 579,799 \| 2015-04-01 \| Kantō \| Tokyo \| File:Hachioji in Tokyo Prefecture Ja.svg
Hakodate \| {{lang\|ja\|函館市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Symbol of Hakodate, Hokkaido.svg \| 677.89 \| 279,056 \| 2005-10-01 \| colspan="2" \| Hokkaidō \| File:Hakodate in Hokkaido Prefecture Ja.svg
Higashiōsaka \| {{lang\|ja\|東大阪市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Higashiosaka.svg \| 61.78 \| 508,267 \| 2005-04-01 \| Kansai \| Osaka \| File:Higashiosaka in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Himeji \| {{lang\|ja\|姫路市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Symbol of Himeji, Hyogo.svg \| 534.43 \| 536,218 \| 1996-04-01 \| Kansai \| Hyōgo \| File:Himeji in Hyogo Prefecture Ja.svg
Hirakata \| {{lang\|ja\|枚方市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Hirakata, Osaka.svg \| 65.08 \| 407,997 \| 2014-04-01 \| Kansai \| Osaka \| File:Hirakata in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Ichinomiya \| {{lang\|ja\|一宮市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Ichinomiya, Aichi.svg \| 113.82 \| 379,654 \| 2021-04-01 \| Chūbu \| Aichi \| File:Ichinomiya in Aichi Prefecture Ja.svg
Iwaki \| {{lang\|ja\|いわき市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Symbol of Iwaki Fukushima.svg \| 1,232.02 \| 332,994 \| 1999-04-01 \| Tōhoku \| Fukushima \| File:Iwaki in Fukushima Prefecture Ja.svg
Kagoshima \| {{lang\|ja\|鹿児島市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Symbol of Kagoshima, Kagoshima.svg \| 547.58 \| 607,257 \| 1996-04-01 \| Kyushu \| Kagoshima \| File:Location of Kagoshima city Kagoshima prefecture Japan.svg
Kashiwa \| {{lang\|ja\|柏市}} \| 50x50px \| File:千葉県柏市市章.svg \| 114.74 \| 404,863 \| 2008-04-01 \| Kantō \| Chiba \| File:Kashiwa in Chiba Prefecture Ja.svg
Kanazawa \| {{lang\|ja\|金沢市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Kanazawa, Ishikawa.svg \| 468.64 \| 462,796 \| 1996-04-01 \| Chūbu \| Ishikawa \| File:Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture Ja.svg
Kawagoe \| {{lang\|ja\|川越市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Kawagoe, Saitama.svg \| 109.13 \| 345,361 \| 2003-04-01 \| Kantō \| Saitama \| File:Kawagoe in Saitama Prefecture Ja.svg
Kawaguchi \| {{lang\|ja\|川口市}} \| 50x50px \| File:埼玉県川口市市章.svg \| 61.95 \| 561,788 \| 2018-04-01 \| Kantō \| Saitama \| File:Kawaguchi in Saitama Prefecture Ja.svg
Kōchi \| {{lang\|ja\|高知市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Kochi, Kochi.svg \| 309.22 \| 342,568 \| 1998-04-01 \| Shikoku \| Kōchi \| File:Kochi in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg
Kōfu \| {{lang\|ja\|甲府市}} \| 50x50px \| File:山梨県甲府市市章.svg \| 212.47 \| 197,318 \| 2019-04-01 \| Chūbu \| Yamanashi \| File:Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture Ja.svg
Kōriyama \| {{lang\|ja\|郡山市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Symbol of Koriyama Fukushima.svg \| 757.20 \| 331,140 \| 1997-04-01 \| Tōhoku \| Fukushima \| File:Koriyama in Fukushima Prefecture Ja.svg
Koshigaya \| {{lang\|ja\|越谷市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Koshigaya, Saitama.svg \| 60.24 \| 328,079 \| 2015-04-01 \| Kantō \| Saitama \| File:Koshigaya in Saitama Prefecture Ja.svg
Kurashiki \| {{lang\|ja\|倉敷市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Kurashiki, Okayama.svg \| 355.63 \| 477,086 \| 2002-04-01 \| Chūgoku \| Okayama \| File:Kurashiki in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg
Kure \| {{lang\|ja\|呉市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Kure, Hiroshima.svg \| 352.80 \| 236,595 \| 2016-04-01 \| Chūgoku \| Hiroshima \| File:Kure in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Kurume \| {{lang\|ja\|久留米市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Kurume, Fukuoka.svg \| 229.96 \| 301,821 \| 2008-04-01 \| Kyushu \| Fukuoka \| File:Kurume in Fukuoka Prefecture Ja.svg
Maebashi \| {{lang\|ja\|前橋市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Symbol of Maebashi, Gunma.svg \| 311.59 \| 338,481 \| 2009-04-01 \| Kantō \| Gunma \| File:Maebashi in Gunma Prefecture Ja.svg
Matsue \| {{lang\|ja\|松江市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Matsue, Shimane.svg \| 572.99 \| 208,160 \| 2018-04-01 \| Chūgoku \| Shimane \| File:Matsue in Shimane Prefecture Ja.svg
Matsumoto \| {{lang\|ja\|松本市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Symbol of Matsumoto, Nagano.svg \| 978.47 \| 239,466 \| 2021-04-01 \| Chūbu \| Nagano \| File:Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture Ja.svg
Matsuyama \| {{lang\|ja\|松山市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Matsuyama, Ehime.svg \| 429.40 \| 516,823 \| 2000-04-01 \| Shikoku \| Ehime \| File:Ehime-matsuyama-city.svg
Mito \| {{lang\|ja\|水戸市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Symbol of Mito Ibaraki.svg \| 217.32 \| 269,162 \| 2020-04-01 \| Kantō \| Ibaraki \| File:Mito in Ibaraki Prefecture Ja.svg
Miyazaki \| {{lang\|ja\|宮崎市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Miyazaki, Miyazaki.svg \| 643.67 \| 402,289 \| 1998-04-01 \| Kyushu \| Miyazaki \| File:Miyazaki in Miyazaki Prefecture Ja.svg
Morioka \| {{lang\|ja\|盛岡市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Morioka, Iwate.svg \| 886.47 \| 299,734 \| 2008-04-01 \| Tōhoku \| Iwate \| File:Morioka in Iwate Prefecture Ja.svg
Naha \| {{lang\|ja\|那覇市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Symbol of Naha, Okinawa.svg \| 39.98 \| 321,695 \| 2013-04-01 \| Kyushu \| Okinawa \| File:Naha in Okinawa Prefecture Ja.svg
Nagano \| {{lang\|ja\|長野市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Symbol of Nagano Nagano.svg \| 834.81 \| 380,581 \| 1999-04-01 \| Chūbu \| Nagano \| File:Nagano in Nagano Prefecture Ja.svg
Nagasaki \| {{lang\|ja\|長崎市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Nagasaki Nagasaki chapter.svg \| 240.71 \| 440,911 \| 1997-04-01 \| Kyushu \| Nagasaki \| File:Nagasaki in Nagasaki Prefecture Ja.svg
Nara \| {{lang\|ja\|奈良市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Nara, Nara.svg \| 276.84 \| 365,421 \| 2002-04-01 \| Kansai \| Nara \| File:Nara in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg
Neyagawa \| {{lang\|ja\|寝屋川市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Symbol of Neyagawa, Osaka.svg \| 24.73 \| 238,819 \| 2019-04-01 \| Kansai \| Osaka \| File:Neyagawa in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Nishinomiya \| {{lang\|ja\|西宮市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Nishinomiya, Hyogo.svg \| 99.96 \| 483,878 \| 2008-04-01 \| Kansai \| Hyōgo \| File:Nishinomiya in Hyogo Prefecture Ja.svg
Ōita \| {{lang\|ja\|大分市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Symbol of Oita Oita.svg \| 502.38 \| 476,008 \| 1997-04-01 \| Kyushu \| Ōita \| File:Oita in Oita Prefecture Ja.svg
Okazaki \| {{lang\|ja\|岡崎市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Okazaki, Aichi.svg \| 387.20 \| 374,085 \| 2003-04-01 \| Chūbu \| Aichi \| File:Okazaki in Aichi Prefecture Ja.svg
Ōtsu \| {{lang\|ja\|大津市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Ōtsu, Shiga.svg \| 464.51 \| 339,469 \| 2009-04-01 \| Kansai \| Shiga \| File:Otsu in Shiga Prefecture Ja.svg
Sasebo \| {{lang\|ja\|佐世保市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Sasebo, Nagasaki.svg \| 426.06 \| 259,676 \| 2016-04-01 \| Kyushu \| Nagasaki \| File:Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture Ja.svg
Shimonoseki \| {{lang\|ja\|下関市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi.svg \| 716.14 \| 277,937 \| 2005-10-01 \| Chūgoku \| Yamaguchi \| File:Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture Ja.svg
Suita \| {{lang\|ja\|吹田市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Suita, Osaka.svg \| 36.11 \| 357,917 \| 2020-04-01 \| Kansai \| Osaka \| File:Suita in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Takamatsu \| {{lang\|ja\|高松市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Takamatsu, Kagawa.svg \| 375.41 \| 420,356 \| 1999-04-01 \| Shikoku \| Kagawa \| File:Kagawa-takamatsu-city.svg
Takasaki \| {{lang\|ja\|高崎市}} \| 50x50px \| File:群馬県高崎市市章.svg \| 459.16 \| 371,820 \| 2011-04-01 \| Kantō \| Gunma \| File:Takasaki in Gunma Prefecture Ja.svg
Takatsuki \| {{lang\|ja\|高槻市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Takatsuki, Osaka.svg \| 105.31 \| 355,840 \| 2003-04-01 \| Kansai \| Osaka \| File:Takatsuki in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Tottori \| {{lang\|ja\|鳥取市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Tottori, Tottori.svg \| 765.31 \| 196,538 \| 2018-04-01 \| Chūgoku \| Tottori \| File:Tottori City in Tottori Prefecture Ja.svg
Toyama \| {{lang\|ja\|富山市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Symbol of Toyama, Toyama.svg \| 1,241.77 \| 421,393 \| 2005-04-01 \| Chūbu \| Toyama \| File:Toyama in Toyama Prefecture Ja.svg
Toyohashi \| {{lang\|ja\|豊橋市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Toyohashi, Aichi.svg \| 261.86 \| 375,804 \| 1999-04-01 \| Chūbu \| Aichi \| File:Toyohashi in Aichi Prefecture Ja.svg
Toyonaka \| {{lang\|ja\|豊中市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Toyonaka, Osaka.svg \| 36.38 \| 390,457 \| 2012-04-01 \| Kansai \| Osaka \| File:Toyonaka in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Toyota \| {{lang\|ja\|豊田市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Toyota, Aichi.svg \| 918.32 \| 420,680 \| 1998-04-01 \| Chūbu \| Aichi \| File:Toyota in Aichi Prefecture Ja.svg
Utsunomiya \| {{lang\|ja\|宇都宮市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Utsunomiya, Tochigi.svg \| 416.85 \| 513,722 \| 1996-04-01 \| Kantō \| Tochigi \| File:Utsunomiya in Tochigi Prefecture Ja.svg
Wakayama \| {{lang\|ja\|和歌山市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Symbol of Wakayama, Wakayama.svg \| 210.25 \| 368,684 \| 1997-04-01 \| Kansai \| Wakayama \| File:Wakayama in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg
Yamagata \| {{lang\|ja\|山形市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Yamagata, Yamagata.svg \| 381.58 \| 254,519 \| 2019-04-01 \| Tōhoku \| Yamagata \| File:Yamagata in Yamagata Prefecture Ja.svg
Yao \| {{lang\|ja\|八尾市}} \| 50x50px \| File:Emblem of Yao, Osaka.svg \| 41.71 \| 270,735 \| 2018-04-01 \| Kansai \| Osaka \| File:Yao in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Yokosuka \| {{lang\|ja\|横須賀市}} \| 50x50px \| File:神奈川県横須賀市市章.svg \| 100.7 \| 415,259 \| 2001-04-01 \| Kantō \| Kanagawa \| File:Yokosuka in Kanagawa Prefecture Ja.svg

class="wikitable sortable" width=80% style="font-size:100%;" align=center

Name

! Japanese

! Flag

! Emblem

! Area (km²)

! Population (2012)

! Date of designation

! Region

! Prefecture

!Map

Akashi

| {{lang|ja|明石市}}

core cities of Japan

History

List of core cities

Former core cities

Scheduled to become a core city

Cities that meet the requirements but have not yet been nominated

See also

References

External links