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The elections were called by Yoshimura, who is also the leader of the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), to gain public support for another merger referendum, long a key goal of the Osaka-centric party.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); });

With the gubernatorial and mayoral elections out of the way, Yoshimura must convince not only Osaka voters but also members of his own party in the Osaka City Council to change their minds and approve a bill to hold a third referendum to realize a long-held dream of merging Osaka city’s wards.

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