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Administrative divisions
Tokyo
Yokohama
Osaka
While there exist eight commonly defined regions of Japan, administratively
Japan consists of forty-seven prefectures, each overseen by an elected governor,
legislature and administrative bureaucracy. The former city of Tokyo is further
divided into twenty-three special wards, each with the same powers as cities.
The nation is currently undergoing administrative reorganization by merging many
of the cities, towns, and villages with each other. This process will reduce the
number of sub-prefecture administrative regions, and is expected to cut
administrative costs.
Japan has dozens of major cities, which play an important role in Japan's
culture, heritage and economy. Those in the list below of the ten most populous
are all prefectural capitals and Government Ordinance Cities, except where
indicated:
City Prefecture Population
1 Tokyoa Tokyo 8,535,792
2 Yokohama Kanagawa 3,602,758
3 Osaka Osaka 2,635,420
4 Nagoya Aichi 2,223,148
5 Sapporo Hokkaidō 1,888,953
6 Kobe Hyōgo 1,528,687
7 Kyoto Kyoto 1,472,511
8 Fukuoka Fukuoka 1,414,417
9 Kawasakib Kanagawa 1,342,262
10 Saitama Saitama 1,182,744
a 23 municipalities. Also capital of Japan.
b Government Ordinance City only.
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