Local Autonomy Law - Definition and Overview

The Local Autonomy Law (地方自治法 Chihō-jiji-hō) of Japan was passed as Law No. 67 on April 17, 1947. It established most of Japan's contemporary local government structures, including:

• The four types of prefecture (to - do - fu - ken)
• Cities, towns, villages, and rural districts
• Cities designated by government ordinance
• The 23 special wards of Tokyo

The text of the law is lengthy (more than 200 pages in print) and is subject to amendment several times a year.

External links

• Current text (http://law.e-gov.go.jp/htmldata/S22/S22HO067.html) (in Japanese)