Yokohama IR faces opposition

The possibility to set an IR at Yokohama’s Yamashita Pier seems to be drifitng away as the Harbor Transport Association stands against it.

Japan.- Casinos and integrated resorts (IRs) are set to be developed in Japan sometime in the near future. However, some areas are voicing their opposition to gaming venues, like the Yokohama Harbor Transport Association (an organisation representing nearly 250 businessmen), which stands against the possibility of locating an IR at the city’s Yamashita Pier.

As reported by AGBrief, last Thursday, chairman Yukio Fujiki introduced at a meeting the association’s proposal to develop a “harbor resort” with MICE facilities at its core, but excluded the inclusion of a casino.

According to Fujiki, 60-80 per cent of Yokohama’s residents oppose to a casino in the city and noted that a project like that would draw foreign investors that would eventually take the lead in Yamashita Pier development. He assured that the local business community is perfectly capable of managing their own city by themselves and said: “We do not want to take up a casino that will be opposed by many citizens. Rather, we would like to create new Yokohama port facilities that focus on exhibition halls and the like.”