Where is South Centrair city?

Another funny news story. Nagoya is located near the center of Japan, and it is the third largest city in the country. They have a new international airaport named "The Centrair Airport". Don't ask me why they named like that? What is that anyway? I want to know who makes up strange names too. Somebody said this is this word is coined from the combination center and air. Hmm to me it sounds like the name of an air conditioner or something. Anyway this has caused more trouble.

In Japan the consolidation of municipalities has been a trend. Usually two small towns combined to make a bigger city to reduce administration costs. In Tokyo Akiruno city originated 10 years ago, when Akigawa City and Itsukaichi Town combined. Anyway, near Nagoya city, there are Mihama town and Minamichita town. They will soon combine, and in their union (synoecism ) a concefence of the founders decided the new city name should be "Sounth Centrair city". Because the new city is located to the South of The Centrair airport. After the announcemen of this new name, so many people in that area protested and claimed to the conference. "Who could live in such a stupidly named city", " I cannot write my address if you pick such a name" were the most common comments, and some people even escalated their protesting HP or joke HP desperately. Then finally the conference announced again, they will reselect the new name. Ah stupid. Japanese like to use English and Japanese English, actually I laughed about it here and here.  But an address or the name of a town should be a different issue.  How do you think?

Comments

[Furusato ha Mihama]

Now it's officially over...

NAMED AFTER AIRPORT: Lame idea for name kills town merger
http://www.asahi.com/english/politics/TKY200503010167.html

Residents reject "Minami Centrair" as name for new city
http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/news/20050228p2a00m0dm010000c.html

Now citizens will move to recall both mayors to meet their own responsibility as they requested this vote.

Again thanks for your support.

[Mari]

Hi Rin
Exactry. Japanese name is much better for all of us.

[Furusato ha Mihama]

>I wonder why the naming council doesn't have a contest with local
>people giving suggestions? Too simple?

They did. No citizen voted a name even inlcude "Centrair".
(There was 300+ votes - and it was way short notice to people)

Then the council ignored the result. "South Centrair" was their own idea - and was nothing more than their political gizmo.

[Rin]

hello. i know this stupid news. i want to let mayors know that this is what's world think about the name "Centrair" they need to respect japanese own stuffs right??

[Mari]

Hi Kawika
Ah they got a suggestion from local people, but still they ignored their opinions. Strange right?

Hi Orange
that is so strange. People who are living their accept it?

Hi Furusato ha Mihama san
Gambatte kudasai until you have a town name. !!

Hi abraxis
Yes I agree, I like traditional name which has a history

[abraxis]

yuck. Town names by committee.

Some people say the camel was really a horse designed by a committee...

I like old names with history that are fun to speak. Like Takadanobaba.

[Furusato ha Mihama]

Hi, thanks for your attention on this issue. I've quoted part of your comment on my blog - as trackbacked. Thanks again.

This was quite a bummer. Way too silly. It came up to my attention one day after the words are spread out all over the nation, and was too late to help current Mihama/Minamichita people from being nationwide scoff. But I felt I got to something to make things back on track a little bit.

Anyhow, "South Centrair City" was backed off and now part of 12 candidates for vote on Feb 27. But there are foxy traps on this vote format (pls refer my recent blogs) - those politicians are die hard!!
But I will continue ton help local people for their right future. It's not over until it's over.

Again, thanks for your support on this.
If you don't mind, appreciate if you could give us your trackback to my little blog entry for appeal (in URL field below), just in case you agree on it.

Thanks!

[orange]

well, it could be worse. there's a town in the US named: Rub Bottom Oklahoma, imagine writing that as your address.

[Kawika]

Well, it's pretty clear that the group who chose "South Centrair City" were motivated by pushing the airport name rather than being sensitive to the historical reasons behind the meanings of Minamichita and Mihama towns.

Perhaps it's because of the controversy between the Kansai and Centrair airports - the city name would be one more way to legitimize and emphasize Centrair on the map. I think it's great that the townspeople spoke up and caused a re-thinking of the new town name.

I wonder why the naming council doesn't have a contest with local people giving suggestions? Too simple?