Prefectures of Japan (Mermachines)

Japan initiated a plan to divide itself into prefectures between 1969 and 1971. This depended on the number of people living per cell. The rise of Japan starting in 1955 and mermaid development had led to the prefectures being restored to pre-1946 levels.

Timeline

 * 1969: The Prefecture Standardization Plan starts.
 * 1970: Osaka Prefecture is declared as such despite occupying the entire territory.
 * 1971: Japan begins a two-sided prefecture plan, combining the classical Hokkaido, Tohoku and Kanto regions into the provisional Higashinippon Prefecture. Osaka lays claim to the rest.
 * 1972: Hokkaido secedes from Higashinippon, henceforth becoming Aomori Prefecture, after its new seat.
 * 1975: Okinawa secedes from Osaka, granting a higher level of autonomy.
 * 1981: Creation of the Kyoto Prefecture (Kyoto was still the capital) and the Nagano Prefecture.
 * 1982: Creation of Nishinippon Prefecture comprising the territories of Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu (including parts of Ryukyu historically claimed by Kagoshima) with capital in Tokushima. Shizuoka, Kanagawa and Tokyo become prefectures, following development of these cities in the previous years.