special cities of japan 

Statements about this table:
函館 and 下関 be both reclassify in 2005
盛岡 and 久留米 be both reclassify in 2008
清水 be the only city that isn't list as a core city
函館 and 盛岡 be both designate in 2000
name
japanese
date of designation
date of reclassification
region
prefecture
hakodate
函館
2000 - 11 - 01
2005 - 10 - 01 ( core city )
hokkaido
hokkaido
shimizu
清水
2001 - 04 - 01
2003 - 04 - 01 (merge into shizuoka )
chūbu
shizuoka
shimonoseki
下関
2002 - 04 - 01
2005 - 02 - 12 ( core city )
chūgoku
yamaguchi
morioka
盛岡
2000 - 11 - 01
2008 - 04 - 01 ( core city )
tōhoku
iwate
kurume
久留米
2001 - 04 - 01
2008 - 04 - 01 ( core city )
kyushu
fukuoka
name
japanese
date of designation
date of reclassification
region
prefecture
maebashi
前橋
2001 - 04 - 01
2009 - 04 - 01 ( core city )
kantō
gunma
ōtsu
大津
2001 - 04 - 01
2009 - 04 - 01 ( core city )
kansai
shiga
amagasaki
尼崎
2001 - 04 - 01
2009 - 04 - 01 ( core city )
kansai
hyōgo
takasaki
高崎
2001 - 04 - 01
2011 - 04 - 01 ( core city )
kantō
gunma