core city
A Japanese administrative designation for cities with a population over 300,000, granted more autonomy than ordinary cities but less than designated cities.
This city is scheduled to transition to a core city next year.
When a city becomes a core city, many administrative powers are transferred from the prefecture.
A former special city category (abolished in 2015) with a population over 200,000; many became core cities.
Compound of 中核 (core, nucleus) and 市 (city). The term was established under the Local Autonomy Act to classify mid-sized cities with enhanced administrative authority.