(Required Conditions for a Pivotal City)
Article 252-23.
A pivotal city shall have satisfied the following conditions:
1.
It shall have a population of 300,000 or more;
2.
It shall have an area (referring to figures most recently announced by the Geographical Survey Institute of the Ministry of Construction) of 100 square kilometers or more.
(Procedure for Designation of a Pivotal City)
Article 252-24.
The Minister of Home Affairs shall draft a cabinet order relating to the designation of a pivotal city under paragraph 1 of Article 252-22, based on the application by the city concerned.
2.
A city which intends to make an application in accordance with the preceding paragraph shall first obtain the consent of the To, Do, Fu or Ken after the passing of a resolution by the assembly of the said city.
3.
The consent in the preceding paragraph shall be given upon approval by the assembly of the said To, Do, Fu or Ken.
(Delegation to Cabinet Order)
Article 252-25.
The provisions of Article 252-21 shall apply mutatis mutandis when a city is designated as a pivotal city under paragraph 1 of Article 252-22.
(Designation as a Specified City)
Article 252-26.
When a pivotal city is designated a specified city in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 252-19, the designation of the said city as a pivotal city in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 252-22 shall become null and void.
(Exceptions in Procedure for Designation of a Pivotal City)
Article 252-26-2.
When in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 7 notification has been made to the Minister of Home Affairs regarding the establishment of a city the area of which includes the whole area of a pivotal city designated in accordance with the same paragraph, it shall be considered that notification has been made by the city concerned under paragraph 1 of Article 252-24.
