The new mayor of Yokohama is not interested in attracting IRs

As a result of the mayoral election, Takeharu Yamanaka was appointed Mayor of Yokohama.The city of Yokohama was considering attracting a casino resort, but with the appointment of Mr. Yamanaka, that possibility has become less likely.After being elected, Mr. Yamanaka announced in a media interview that he would soon issue a formal statement stating that he would not invite the casino.

Mayor election

Mr. Yamanaka was elected mayor with a voter turnout of 33% or more.He received the support of the Social Democratic Party, the Japanese Communist Party, and the Democratic Party.

In the past, it was said that Yokohama might be a candidate site for an integrated resort casino.Yokohama is the prefectural capital of Kanagawa Prefecture and is the second largest city in Japan after Tokyo.However, Mr Yamanaka strongly opposed this.Instead of using the land prepared for the casino, I think it is suitable for facilities such as hotels and concert halls.

Seven candidates ran for the mayoral election. Fumiko Hayashi, an incumbent who is aiming for the fourth term, was in favor of attracting IRs.However, unfortunately, the number of votes for the supporters was small.

Intense opposition movement

Candidates other than Yamanaka also opposed Hayashi, who wanted to return to the mayor and invite IR to Yokohama.Hachiro Okonogi expressed his opposition as the election campaign intensified.

Mr. Okonogi of the Liberal Democratic Party is a person who resigned as chairman of the National Public Safety Commission and ran for mayoral election.Kokonoki said at a press conference in June that if he became the mayor, he would shelve plans to attract casinos.Kokonoki and Yamanaka have revealed that other ideas should be used to monetize the city, not gambling.

Companies are showing interest in casinos for Japan.Genting Singapore, which operates Resorts World Sentosa, is considered one of the candidates in the competition for which company will obtain the license.Melco Resorts and Entertainment, which has casinos in the Philippines and Macau, is also a candidate.