Editing Osaka Prefecture (section)

===Proposed reorganisation===
{{main|Osaka Metropolis plan}}

In 2010, the [[Osaka Restoration Association (1st)|Osaka Restoration Association]] was created with backing by Governor Tōru Hashimoto, with hopes of reforming Osaka Prefecture into the Osaka Metropolis and merging with the City of Osaka.<ref name="FT"/> In the 2011 local elections, the association was able to win the majority of the prefectural seats and Hashimoto was elected as mayor of Osaka.

A [[2015 Osaka Metropolis Plan referendum|referendum]] on the issue was held in 2015 and was defeated with 50.38% of voters opposed to the plan.<ref name="FT"/> A second referendum in 2020 was rejected by 50.6% of voters.<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnston |first=Eric |date=November 2, 2020 |title=Osaka referendum defeat raises questions about future of city's politics |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/11/02/national/politics-diplomacy/osaka-referendum-future/ |work=The Japan Times |url-access=registration |accessdate=October 5, 2021}}</ref>