This research was intended to provide a method to improve competitiveness, based on the integration of basic municipalities by assessing changes in their population and local industry Municipalities were integrated based on the addressing system 市(Shi), 町(Chome), 村(Village) of Japan. As a result, an actual increase of the population could not be seen in the new municipalities formed by the integration of the basic municipalities. It is also found that the shipping volumes, number of companies, and the number of people employed by local industry, attracted by such municipalities, has steadily decreased. However, even though the proportion of industrysharing in the local municipalities is not significant, it was found that the number of tourists has increased. Therefore, it is concluded that the strengthening of the connectivity between local industry and the tourism industry can be one of the principal methods to strengthen the competitiveness of these municipalities. In addition, it has been found that scientific research from a variety of perspectives and verification of data related to the effectiveness of integration of local municipalities is necessary.

Abstract
 1. 서 론
 2. 재료 및 방법
  2.1. 연구 대상과 방법
  2.2. 에치젠시(越前市)의 개요
 3. 결과 및 고찰
  3.1. 일본 지방자치단체의 변화 추이
  3.2. 에치젠시의 인구변화
  3.3. 산업변화와 관광객 변화 추이
 4. 결 론
 REFERENCES

• 조현주(강릉원주대학교 동해안생명과학연구소, East Coast Life Sciences Institute, Gangneung-Wonju National University) | Hyun-Ju Jo
• 배중남(상지대학교 관광학부, Devision of Tourism, Sangji University) | Jung-Nam Bae Corresponding author