Sasebo confirms new IR bid being considered
Mayor Daisuke Miyajima has said that Sasebo is collecting information from potential IR operators and industry experts.
Japan.- It’s been confirmed that Sasebo in Japan’s Nagasaki prefecture is considering another attempt to secure an integrated resort (IR) licence. Mayor Daisuke Miyajima said the city would examine the possibility while considering developments at the national and prefectural levels.
Councillor Kodai Yamashita questioned Miyajima about preparations for a renewed IR bid during the council’s regular September session on Wednesday. Yamashita asked whether the city planned to hold discussions with Nagasaki Prefecture, the business community and private-sector operators ahead of the national application period scheduled for May 6 to November 5, 2027.
Miyajima said Sasebo was gathering views and information from potential IR operators and experts as it considers whether to pursue a bid. He said the city would need to decide whether to participate in next national application round by the end of the fiscal year on March 31, 2027.
The Sasebo Chamber of Commerce and Industry made a request for the city to revive its IR plans on August 24.
Sasebo was selected as the location for Nagasaki’s first IR proposal. The JPY438.3bn (US$2.85bn) project was planned near the Huis Ten Bosch theme park and involved Casinos Austria International Japan Inc as its private-sector partner. However, the national government rejected Nagasaki’s proposal in December 2023, citing concerns about the reliability of its financing arrangements.
