When NHK conducted a questionnaire to governors nationwide regarding the response to the new coronavirus, there were a number of voices pointing out issues such as the division of roles and responsibilities between the national and local governments.

In January, after the second state of emergency was declared, NHK conducted a written questionnaire to governors nationwide and received responses from all prefectures.



According to this, when asked if the division of roles between the national and prefectural governments was properly carried out in response to the new coronavirus,


▽ "appropriate" was 5 people, and


▽ "somewhat appropriate" was 33. There


were 6

people,

▽ "somewhat inappropriate", and


▽ "inappropriate" 1 person.



Eighty percent of the governors answered that they were "appropriate," including "if anything," as they provided financial support and specialized knowledge.



However, many of these governors also pointed out issues regarding relations with the country one after another.



▽ Governor Nakamura of Ehime Prefecture said, "Initially, when issuing a state of emergency, closing schools all at once in the spring, implementing various economic policies, etc., there are many cases where sudden measures are required without information reaching the prefectural side. There was confusion in information sharing and division of roles. "



▽ Governor Yoshimura of Yamagata Prefecture pointed out that it is "difficult to respond speedily according to the actual situation" about the need for prior consultation with the government to request a leave of absence.



In addition, ▽ Governor Kawakatsu of Shizuoka Prefecture has stated that the "Go To Campaign" should be handled responsibly as a national business, rather than leaving the decision of suspension etc. to the prefecture.



In addition, ▽ Governor Yuzaki of Hiroshima Prefecture, who answered, "It is rather inappropriate," said, "As a result, the government confirms the request from the local government, and information gathering and information gathering. It is necessary to review the authority and role of the national and local governments so that the measures can be implemented promptly. "



▽ Governor Yoshimura of Osaka Prefecture said, "While the government has the authority to issue a state of emergency, the governor has the authority to request a leave of absence, and it is unclear whether the national or prefectural government is responsible. We should move to the prefecture that has the best understanding of the situation so that the governor can issue it responsibly. "



The questionnaire also asked about the future decentralization.



▽ Governor Hanazumi of Niigata Prefecture said, "With the spread of the new coronavirus infection, there is an increasing need to correct the overconcentration in Tokyo and promote regional dispersion."



▽ Governor Suzuki of Mie Prefecture pointed out that "local participation in the national policy-making process" needs to be further enhanced.

Regarding these results, former Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Yoshihiro Katayama, who also served as the governor of Tottori Prefecture, said, "Infection control is a joint work between the national and prefectural governments, but the national government decides the outline and takes care of the financial situation. Specific measures are the capital. The roles should be divided so that the prefectures will strike. "

In addition, Professor Emeritus Takashi Mikuriya of the University of Tokyo, who specializes in political science, said, "By using the new coronavirus as one, we will completely change the movements of the countries and regions that were previously useless, and a new vision after corona. If the administration so far has been reluctant, the prefectural governor must aggressively carry out aggressive administration. If the region is serious, the country should also accept it. " I am.