Kasumigaura absorbed the town of Chiyoda (both from Niihari District) to create the city of Kasumigaura. On August 1, 2005 - the town of Kamisu absorbed the town of Hasaki (both from Kashima District) to create the city of Kamisu. On September 2, 2005 - the towns of Asō, Kitaura and Tamatsukuri (all from Namegata District) were merged to create the city of Namegata. Namegata District was dissolved as a result of this merger. On September 12, 2005 - the old city of Koga absorbed the towns of Sanwa and Sōwa (both from Sashima District) to create the new and expanded city of Koga. On October 1, 2005 - the town of Makabe, the village of Yamato (both from Makabe District), and the town of Iwase (from Nishiibaraki District) were merged to create the city of Sakuragawa. Makabe District was dissolved as a result of this merger. On October 1, 2005 - the old city of Ishioka absorbed the town of Yasato (from Niihari District) to create the new and expanded city of Ishioka. On October 11, 2005 - the town of Hokota absorbed the villages of Asahi and Taiyō (all from Kashima District) to create the city of Hokota. Kashima District was dissolved as a result of this merger. On January 1, 2006 - the old city of Shimotsuma absorbed the village of Chiyokawa (from Yūki District) to create the new and expanded city of Shimotsuma. On January 1, 2006 - the town of Ishige (from Yūki District) was merged into the expanded city of Mitsukaido. Mitsukaido changed the name to Jōsō at the same time. On February 20, 2006 - the village of Niihari (from Niihari District) was merged into the expanded city of Tsuchiura. On March 19, 2006 - the towns of Iwama and Tomobe (both from Nishiibaraki District) were merged into the expanded city of Kasama. Nishiibaraki District was dissolved as a result of this merger. On March 27, 2006 - the towns of Ogawa and Minori (both from Higashiibaraki District), and the village of Tamari (from Niihari District) were merged to create the city of Omitama. Niihari District was dissolved as a result of this merger. On March 27, 2006 - the town of Ina, and the village of Yawara (both from Tsukuba District) were merged to create the city of Tsukubamirai. Tsukuba District was dissolved as a result of this merger. Planned/Future Mergers References