July 2004: Withdrawal by Namegawa-machi from the Hiki Area Council for Merger of Three Towns and Three Villages due to support by the majority of citizens for the merger of eight cities, towns and villages including Higashimatsuyama City and Yoshimi-machi, as a result of plebiscite on the framework of the merger conducted in Namegawa-machi
2004年7月滑川町で合併の枠組みを問う住民投票を行った結果、東松山市・吉見町を含む８市町村で合併が過半数を占めたために滑川町は比企地域３町３村合併協議会から離脱