Nearly three years after voters narrowly rejected an effort backed by Osaka Ishin no Kai (One Osaka) to restructure two dozen wards in the city of Osaka into fewer but larger, more autonomous zones, the party is gearing up for one more try despite a tight political schedule, uncertain public support and continued political opposition.

Osaka Ishin, the local political group affiliated with the national Nippon Ishin no Kai party, failed to push through its merger plan in 2015. The proposal was strongly opposed by local chapters of the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito and the Japanese Communist Party. Osaka Ishin has a plurality in the municipal assembly but often cooperates with Komeito to form a majority.

Formal debate over the latest revision to the Osaka Ishin proposal began last week. Insisting a streamlined city bureaucracy would be more cost-efficient, the party, which includes Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura and Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui, wants the city's 24 administrative wards to be reorganized into four large districts that would have more political autonomy, especially over their tax revenues and budgets.