Hayashi may not seek reelection, Yokohama IR in danger?

Pro-IR Yokohama mayor Fumiko Hayashi may not run again when her third term ends in August.

Japan.- Yokohama’s IR plans may have hit another hurdle as it emerges that current mayor Fumiko Hayashi may not run for a fourth term in office at elections in August.

Hayashi has been a firm proponent of an integrated resort in Yokohama.

However, public opposition to the city’s plans have resulted in the emergence of an anti-IR candidate for the August mayoral elections in the form of Masataka Ota.

Hayashi has not yet clarified whether she intends to run for reelection but there is speculation that she may be considering not to run because of health reasons.

That’s leading to some concern over the future of Yokohama’s IR plans should Hayashi no longer be in power when the national IR applcation period begins in October.

Yokohama integrated resorts plans in doubt?

The Opposition mayoral candidate, Masataka Ota, has promised to end Yokohama’s IR plans.

Citizens’ groups opposed to an integrated resort in the port city gathered 200,000 signatures to call for a referendum on the development but Fumiko Hayashi rejected it saying a referendum “would be pointless.”

Melco Resorts chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho recently said that the company remains committed to seeking IR licence in Japan but made no reference to Yokohama, since there is still no clear picture regarding the city’s plans.