The Japanese government has named five nominees to form the country’s Casino Management Committee, which will choose the market’s first three integrated resort operators, oversee the licensing process and otherwise supervise the industry.
The nominees will be reviewed by the Diet early next month; major opposition parties including the Constitutional Democratic Party may resist the casino appointments.
The nominees are:
- Michio Kitamura, former director of Japan’s Ministry of Defense
- Hiroyuki Kane, former head of the Nagoya Regional Taxation Bureau
- Psychiatrist Michiko Watanabe
- Keio University Professor Noriko Endo
- Former Police Chief Director Kenji Higuchi
The government will publish a “basic policy” by July 2020 that will determine the criteria for the selection of operators of Japan’s IRs.
Local governments will then apply for licensure along with their chosen operating partners. The national government will choose up to three locations nationwide, including two metropolitan and one regional.
