Jichi-shō

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The Jichi-shō ( Japanese 自治 省 , literally "Ministry of Self- Administration "; English Ministry of Home Affairs ) was a Japanese ministry with cabinet rank . It existed from 1960 to 2001 and was responsible for regional self-government, especially the prefectural finances , as well as disaster control and the organization of elections.

The "Authority for Local Self-Government" ( 地方自治 庁 , chihō-jichi-chō ) set up in 1949 as a branch of the Prime Minister’s Office was merged with the Electoral Supervision Commission ( 選 挙 管理 委員会 , bekyo-kanri-iinkai ) in 1953 and became the “Authority for Self-Administration” “( Jichi-chō ) upgraded to cabinet rank. In 1960 this became a ministry after merging with the Disaster Management Authority ( bōshō-chō ). During the reform of the central government in 2001, the Jichi-shō was merged with the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications to form the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication .