# What are the advantages of

## I mprovement in the convenience of residents

If a merger is implemented, it becomes possible for residents to use public facilities and services beyond the borders of the former municipalities, making life becomes even more convenient.

"It has become possible to use possible with

## Ex

In Niigata City, after the merger it has become possible to go beyond municipal boundaries and make use of the vacancies in child day-care centers.

## Diversification and upgrading of administrative services

Through the establishment of specialized organizations and staff, which had been difficult to implement before, it becomes possible to provide more specialized and high-level administrative services.

New services

## Ex

In Asagiri Town in Kumamoto Prefecture, there was an increase in the number of staff with qualifications as public health doctors after the merger, so it has become possible to organize vaccinations for infants and health courses for adults, which previously had almost not been implemented at all.

## Are there any disadvantages?

## Won’t the municipal office be farther away for some people?

After a merger, the old city, town, or village offices can still be used as branches or

outposts of the new municipal office. In addition, a law has been enacted to ensure that certain specific administrative business for which there is much local need, such as the issue of residence certificates, can be handled by post offices, which have deep roots in the local community.

Furthermore, with the development of information communication technology, the government plans to make it possible for people to submit online applications and so on without even leaving them home, so in the not too distant future we are going to have a society in which distance is no longer a problem.

## Won’t it become more difficult for residents to make their voices heard?

As well as things like local public meetings and local administration monitors that

have existed before the merger, district councils will be established in the former municipal localities after the merger so that the wishes of residents can be taken into consideration. Also, the government is providing support for community-development efforts with the independent participation of residents, for example in elementary school zones. In addition, arrangements for information disclosure and accountability will be strengthened, and new forms of participation by residents will become possible through, for example, utilization of the Internet, which has interactive functions.

C District Council

B District Council

## Q Won’t there be a deterioration in service?

Before a merger, there might have been differences between the municipalities concerned in

terms of the level of services to residents, rates for using facilities, fees, and so on. The settlement of such problems will be decided through consultations between the municipalities concerned before the merger. The usual approach is to coordinate such things as the level of services and the burden in a manner that is acceptable to residents by increasing the efficiency of administrative processing and so on.

In addition, legislation has been implemented so that the burden on residents does not increase suddenly as the result of a merger.