Japan is known as a country in which a potent central power reigns over a compliant hierarchy and for planning this has meant strong centralized government control. Yet, examples of autonomy have always existed in the politics, society and economy of Japan and thrive today in various forms, particularly within urban areas. Following the growth and subsequent collapse of the bubble economy in the early 1990s, and in response to globalization, new trends towards local autonomy and political and economic decentralization are emerging that must be evaluated in the context of the larger socio-political system. Cities, Autonomy and Decentralization in Japan addresses this development, providing a cogent compilation of case studies focusing on the past, present and future of decentralization in Japan.