Core cities of Japan

Core cities of Japan (中核市) is a defined class or category of Japanese cities. It is a local administrative division created by the national government. All core cities have a population greater than 300,000.

History
The core cities were created because of the Local Autonomy Law of Japan. Each city does many of the things normally done by prefectures.

List
Core cities were recognized starting in 1996. There are 40+ of these cities, including
 * This list is not finished; you can help Wikipedia by adding to it.


 * Akita, 1997
 * Amagasaki, 2009
 * Aomori, 2006
 * Asahikawa, 2000
 * Fukuyama, 1998
 * Funabashi, 2003
 * Gifu, 1996
 * Hakodate, 2005
 * Higashiōsaka, 2005
 * Himeji, 1996
 * Iwaki, 1999
 * Kagoshima, 1996
 * Kanazawa, 1996
 * Kashiwa, 2008
 * Kawagoe, 2003
 * Kōchi, 1998
 * Kōriyama, 1997
 * Kurashiki, 2002
 * Kurume, 2008
 * Maebashi, 2009
 * Matsuyama, 2000
 * Miyazaki, 1998
 * Morioka, 2008
 * Nagano, 1999
 * Nagasaki, 1997
 * Naha, 2013
 * Nara, 2002
 * Nishinomiya, 2008
 * Ōita, 1997
 * Okazaki, 2003
 * Okayama
 * Ōtsu, 2009
 * Shimonoseki, 2005
 * Takamatsu, 1999
 * Takasaki, 2011
 * Takatsuki, 2003
 * Toyama, 1996
 * Toyohashi, 1999
 * Toyonaka
 * Toyota, 1998
 * Utsunomiya, 1996
 * Wakayama, 1997
 * Yokosuka, 2001

Related pages

 * Administrative division
 * Urban area
 * Municipalities in Japan

Other websites

 * "Large City System of Japan"; graphic shows core cities in context [PDF 7 of 40 ]