The Development Of IR In Japan Doesn’t Remain At A Standstill

Article by : Helen Jan 29, 2021

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Updated: Apr 6, 2023

The gambling market in Japan starts to gain development momentum despite the number of new Coronavirus cases continues to increase. The country has some plans to open Integrated Resorts (IR), and it looks like this intention is beginning to happen. Earlier this year, Nagasaki has launched the request-for-proposal (RFP) process, while Yokohama will get request-for-proposal in the near future. These recent movements show the country’s gambling market has pretty high chances for recovery after a decline provoked by the pandemic.

Clare Best Neem Ventures and SunCity Group Holdings Japan Co. reiterated their interest in developing IR. Wakayama is one of the regions that desire to have IR in its territory as IR investments might bring the region good economic benefits. The casino operators mentioned above are potential candidates who submitted the necessary documents to reaffirm their determination. One round of review has already been done, resulting in both operators selected. However, it hasn’t been confirmed yet that Wakayama is among the areas that will host an Integrated Resort. The Wakayama prefecture hopes that the decision will be made in the spring, and in case of a positive result, the first IR will be introduced in five years.

Casino operators are trying to use all possible techniques to be included in the IR scheme, and Oshidori International Development LLC has appointed Keigo Nakatani as its chief operating officer. The company is sure that Keigo will help it become one of the companies in Nagasaki’s IR scheme. Moreover, Oshidori uses an economics major and business development executive’s services, hoping its competitiveness becomes much better.

Oshidori’s rule is not only to create the best IR resort in Asia, but also to fulfill its social responsibilities to Nagasaki and Kyushu through its IR business, and to create a new society together with local people using IR as a catalyst. In order to achieve this, we believed that a person who can carefully discover the potential of the region and present it to the world is the right person to take office.

The idea of creating IR in Yokohama became quite popular. Some inhabitants even tried to overthrow Fumiko Hayashi, the city’s mayor. However, not all the residents share the same opinion, and Yokohama has to persuade them by showing IR’s advantages. Eventually, the attempt to oust Fumiko wasn’t successful, but it looks like another mayor might accelerate the process of building IR in Yokohama.

The situation in Nagasaki is no less controversial as far as the city will elect a new mayor in August. Masataka Ota, City Councilman, shows his intention to become the city’s leader, but it’s worthy to note that he is an IR development opponent. “I have been saying that [IR] facilities, including casinos that Yokohama City is attracting, are not good. The city council also rejected an ordinance to conduct a public vote on whether or not to vote, and he decided to run for office because he wanted to become mayor and play politics for citizens. If I become mayor, the casino will be over immediately,” claimed Ota in his recent statement.
Masataka Ota, a 75-year-old representative of the Constitutional Democratic Party, also added: “If I become the mayor of Yokohama, the casino issue will disappear that very day. To put it plainly, I will not do casinos.”

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