In a landslide victory July 5, Yuriko Koike was reelected to a second term as governor of Tokyo. Her victory could mean that the capital city finally will join the bidding for one of Japan’s first three multibillion-dollar integrated resorts (IRs).
Koike has been noncommittal on the subject thus far, saying only, “I expect it will be a tourist base that will boost Japan’s economic growth and competitiveness on the international stage, but there are concerns about issues like gambling addiction.
“We must fully consider the advantages and disadvantages as we pay close attention to national trends.”
With the election behind her, however, and the coronavirus creating economic hardships that could take years to overcome, she may be more willing to align herself with IR supporters.
According to Inside Asian Gaming, the Greater Tokyo Area is the world’s largest metropolis with a population of 38 million, of which 14 million live in Tokyo prefecture. The population alone makes the area attractive for the world’s leading IR companies, though one casino mogul, Lawrence Ho of Melco Resorts & Entertainment, has said Tokyo’s density of attractions means it doesn’t need the additional tourism the IRs are meant to generate.
If Koike declares herself for a Tokyo IR, she could wield considerable influence. The 67-year-old conservative, who’s been called the most powerful woman in Japan, served as defense minister during Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s first term in office, and went on to become Tokyo first female governor. She’s been tipped as the first female prime minister of Japan, possibly succeeding Abe when his term ends in September 2021.
In her victory speech, Koike said curbing the coronavirus is her No. 1 priority. “Now is a very important time to prepare for a possible second wave, and I will continue to firmly take steps,” she said. “The next four years is a crucial time for Japan’s capital, with the Olympics and Paralympics coming up, and coronavirus measures are needed.”
Exit polls by NHK indicated that 74 percent of respondents supported Koike.
In other Japan IR news, Osaka has again extended the deadline for requests for proposals (RFPs) from operators. U.S. gaming giant MGM Resorts International and its local partner, Orix Corp., are the sole contenders so far for Osaka’s IR bid, following the withdrawal of Galaxy Entertainment Group and Genting Singapore in February.
“The desire of operators to expand to Osaka remains the same, but we have not been able to make progress due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Osaka Mayor Ichiro Matsui, who said the deadline could be postponed by six months.
Despite expected delays, Yokohama Mayor Fumiko Hayashi is urging the central government release its long-awaited Basic Policy on IRs, so the city can stick to its own IR schedule. Currently candidate locations and operators are to submit their bids to the central government between January and July 2021.
“I believe the central government knows that Yokohama would like to make its announcement in August,” Hayashi said. “In principle, if the government publishes the Basic Policy, we can make the August schedule. But if the country cannot issue its Basic Policy, we will have to rethink this.”
