The city of Nishi-Tokyo was born in northwestern Tokyo Sunday as Tanashi and Hoya merged into a new entity of 15.8 sq. km and about 180,000 people, mostly commuters who work in downtown Tokyo.
City government officials and citizens celebrated the creation of Japan's first new city in the 21st century by holding ceremonies at the two municipal government buildings.
In the opening ceremony, acting Nishi-Tokyo Mayor Hideto Hiruma, Hoya's former deputy mayor, said, "Our duty is to make the children who will take on the future, stay emotionally linked to Nishi-Tokyo."
He then unveiled the city's nameplate and cut ribbons stretched across the entrance of the new Nishi-Tokyo city hall, which used to belong to Tanashi.
The mayor of Nishi-Tokyo will be chosen in an election to be held in February. Former Tanashi Mayor Tatsuo Sueki and former Hoya Mayor Kohan Hoya said they plan to run because negotiations on selecting one of them for the post failed late last year.
The merger was supported in a poll held on July 30 in which residents 18 or over selected the new city's name.