Japan

On Friday, the Kamakura City Council rejected a draft resolution that would have denounced moves by neighboring governments to engage in IR bids. The draft resolution called for no IRs to be built in the entire Kanto region, with the main concern being the IR bid of neighboring Yokohama, also within the same Kanagawa Prefecture.

Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki, who has been taking a go-slow approach on his decision whether or not to pursue an IR bid for the Tomakomai location, has now clearly indicated for the first time that he will hand down his verdict by the end of this year, not early next year as had been anticipated by most observers.

Fukuoka Mayor Soichiro Takashima has quickly responded to the Junior Chamber International Fukuoka’s proposal for an IR bid from his city. The answer was clear—“not at this time.”

Genting Singapore has announced that it will be issuing yen-denominated bonds in Japan, even as it continues to maintain public silence about its IR licensing campaign in the country.

Junior Chamber International Fukuoka is making a strong push for Fukuoka city, the most populous municipality on the island of Kyushu, to join the IR race, and they will soon be formally petitioning the local government and business leaders to join this campaign.

Rush Street Japan has unveiled its architectural team which it hopes will one day soon be designing and building an IR in Tomakomai, Hokkaido.

On Friday, the final day of its regular session, the Wakayama Prefectural Assembly declared its support for Governor Yoshinobu Nisaka’s initiative to seek an IR license for the Marina City location.

Japan Casino Academy has made an agreement with Toronto-based Advantage United Recruitment Agency (AURA) to provide some of its students to receive hands-on casino training utilizing the Canadian working holiday system.

The Hokkaido Prefectural Government has announced that it will be holding explanation meetings with the general public in five locations to both talk about its research on the issue of IR development, as well as to seek public views about the matter.

Hundreds of eager players gathered in a luxurious Tokyo hotel this month to participate in a three-day tournament hosted by the World Poker Tour, signaling the potential for a bright future for table games within the Japanese market.