Yokohama Mayor Hiroshi Nakada decided Friday to allow residents of the city to choose whether their personal data can be registered in a national resident registry network to be launched Monday by the central government

The decision reflects his belief that the city administration cannot decide whether it should participate in the network without consulting with its residents, according to the city officials. Nakada will provide to the central government the personal data of people who choose to take part in the network, they said. Yokohama is the largest municipality in Japan with a population of some 3.45 million, and it is likely that many residents will choose not to have their data registered in the network. Earlier in the day, Nobuo Hoshino, mayor of Tokyo's Kokubunji City, told a municipal assembly meeting that the western Tokyo city will not participate in the network until more sophisticated legislation to protect personal information is in place. The move by Kokubunji and possible abstention of many Yokohama residents will make the national network incomplete, analysts said.