Brief news about Wakayama Casino 2018 (in order from the latest)

Casino attraction, Yoshinobu Nisaka elected for the fourth time in the Wakayama governor elections

● Yomiuri newspaper – Monday, November 25


The Wakayama governor election votes were counted on the 25th and the result was that current governor, Yoshinobu Nisaka (68 y/o) (independent) defeated Masayoshi Hatanaka (66 y/o) (independent = communism recommended) the chief of the citizen group ‘Citizen Ombudsman Wakayama’ was victorious with his fourth win. The voter turnout was 38.33% (39.65% previous).



Nisaka was recommended by the LDP, Democratic Party for the People and each Social Democratic Party for the prefectural organizations and he emphasized the record of the third quarter in 2012 and how the highway improvements went well, he also vowed to take part in industry promotions including an aim to attract an IR with a casino.


Hatanaka’s policies were against the the creation of an IR attraction, but he did not make it into office.

The current governor, Nisaka and the new contender Hatanaka ran for office.

● Mainichi newspaper – Thursday, November 8


On the 8th, it was decided that with the current term coming to a close, the Wakayama governor election will be held with Yoshinobu Nisaka (68) trying to be reinstated for the fourth time and the new contender, Masayoshi Hatanaka the chief of the Citizen Ombudsman in Wakayama = Communist recommended = Independently submitted running for office.


Just like with the previous election in 2014, it was a duel that Hatanaka tried to get with Nisaka as a non-communist. The voter count was on the 25th.



Nisaka was recommended by the LDP, Democratic Party for the People, Komei and Social Democratic Party of prefectural organizations and appealed to voters on his record in the third quarter of 2012 on how he measured about the population decreasing and how he strengthened the disaster prevention system. Hatanaka pushed forward against the creation of an IR facility including a casino as the prefecture is keen on casino attractions in Wakayama city and vowed to change the prefectural government.

Wakayama prefecture prepares for marine traffic between IR candidate marine city and Kansai International Airport

● Kii Minpo newspaper – Monday, September 17


It was found out on the 16th that Wakayama prefecture are considering to prepare marine traffic commuting between the artificial island of Wakayama marina city and its IR attraction with a casino and Kasai International Airport in the construction plan layout in progress (Izumisano city, Osaka).



They are seeking ideas for opening marina city businesses from IR overseas companies who are keen this summer. An idea of one of the companies to enhance the commute from Kansai International Airport was suggested and they decided to consider it seriously.


According to prefectural related personnel, they will improve accessibility by installing high speed boats and ferries, so that it can attract foreign tourists arriving in Kansai International Airport as well as hotel users within the IR.

Ooe did not come forward as a candidate for Wakayama governor election, but Hatanaka committed to it

● Kii Minpo newspaper – Saturday, September 8


Masayoshi Hatanaka (66), the chief of the Citizen Ombudsman Wakayama in Tenjinzaki, Tanabe city, Wakayama, on the 8th, declared he would run for election (November 8 noticed, counted votes on the 25th). This is the second run for him after the previous one and he appeals as being against the IR attraction with a casino.


At the same time Yasuhiro Ooe (64), the former member of the House of Councillors announced that he would not go forward as a candidate this time on the 7th.



The Japan Communist Party prefectural committee, labour union and political group made by females ‘community to make abundant and easy living in Wakayama’ stood for Hatanaka. Hatanaka is recommended by the Communist Party and will run for the election independently.

Promotion office for IR attraction, Wakayama

● Kii Minpo – Thursday, September 6


Wakayama prefecture newly established a IR promotion office with the planning and general affairs department for the IR attraction with a casino on the 4th.


It had been functioning within that department, but they decided to separate it out as a specialized department since the IR Implement Bill was agreed. There are eight staff with the same department leader in the planning and general affairs department.



At the same time, attraction measurements are being discussed to establish a project team structure with 20 related departments including the prefectural board of education and prefectural police from July.


They will make ‘A gambling addiction measurement project team’ with the eight related departments and work on measurement plans and deliver on addiction prevention.

The current mayor, Masahiro Obana was re-elected as mayor of Wakayama over a new contender

● Yomiuri newspaper – Sunday, July 29


The Wakayama mayor election, on the 29, votes were counted and the current mayor Masahiro Obana (65) (independent = recommended by LDP, Democratic Party, Komei) beat Kumiko Shima (62) (independent = recommended by Communist, SPD) and was re-elected. The turnout was 31.56％ (30.84% previous).


Obana spoke about the record of the first quarter such as three universities attractions in the city and fought through stably the whole time. Shima spoke out against the IR attraction, but did not make it.

The fight is on between the two contenders for the Wakayama mayor election

● Jiji Press – Sunday, July 22


On the 22nd, it was decided that with the current term coming to a close, the Wakayama mayor election will be held with Kumiko Shima (62) the corporate president =recommended by Communist, SPD = Independent and the current mayor Masahiro Obana (65) for reelection = recommended by LDP, Democratic Party, Komei = Independent submitting that they will run for office.


Votes will be counted on the 29th. What they mainly compete on will be the IR attraction with the casino included which Wakayama prefecture is looking to set up.



Shima voiced his opinion of being against the IR saying ‘There’s more bad influences than economic merits such as gambling addiction.’. Whereas, Obana spoke up that the employment effect is expected to be huge as well as the economic effect and he is suggesting to promote it limiting casino users to being only foreign people.

Wakayama prefecture held a symposium for gambling addiction at a hotel in Wakayama city

● Kii Minpo – Monday, May 21


On 19th, Wakayama prefecture held a symposium at a hotel in Wakayama city aiming to deliver an IR attraction with a casino in it.


Fumiya Shinohara, an IR preparation and promotion committee member and a political commentator said ‘The regional balance is not the matter. We were saying in our promotion meeting that a large city type set up is required like Osaka has to offer, but a rural resort type set up like in Wakayama is also needed, so that should be considered and acknowledged.’ and we suggested that ‘We can join with Osaka and apply together, that’s another way. ’.



At the same time, they emphasized that it is essential to strictly regulate for gambling addiction for Japanese people. The prefecture is considering to make an IR card which people can setup for admission as well as to limit the number of entries and create an upper limit for deposits mentioned in the IR Implement Bill.

The economic ripple effect of the casino attraction is about 300 billion yen. Wakayama prefecture install an IR card for addiction measurement in a basic idea plan.

● Sanken newspaper – Wednesday, May 9


Yoshinobu Nisaka, the mayor of Wakayama is aiming to attract an IR with a casino at the artificial island of Wakayama Marina City and he published their basic idea plan for what it should be.



In their basic idea plan, there are luxury hotels for VIPs from overseas and a world scale sporting competition all weather type arena including a casino, and they indicated that they would aim to make an IR resort with diverse tourism materials utilizing the world heritage sites. Mt. Takano and Kumano Kodo.


The annual number of visitors if the IR is opened in Marina City is expected to be about four million people and trial calculations for the economic ripple effect on the prefecture is estimated to be about 300 billion yen. The job creation effect such as with tourism would be about 20,000 people.



Also, the IR Implement Bill includes a requirement for the operator to pay a 15% casino profit to authorized local government and half of the admission paid by Japanese would become profit for the local government, so these funds would be used as financial resources for welfare and education.


For measurements to avoid bankruptcy risk and addiction, they would apply a My Number Card for entering the casino and limit the number of entries and implement unique prefecture measurements as well. To avoid over spending by customers, they would install an IR card with a limit setup and place some addiction measurement special staff on site who can make problem gamblers leave.

Synposium in Wakayama city discussing about tourists utilized with casino

● Kii Minpo – Monday, January 15


On the 15th, Wakayama prefecture, Wakayama city and Wakayama Chamber of Commerce and local industry who are aiming to attract an IR including a casino opened a symposium about the IR at Wakayama Prefectural Cultural Hall. Authorities on the topic were invited and they discussed about the necessity of an IR and what tourism promotion should consist of.


The prefecture and the city are trying to promote Marina City in Wakayama city as the first candidate.



An IR propulsion method to indicate about the IR was established in December, 2016. The frame of the system for the IR Implement Bill is expected to be proposed in parliament on the 22nd and it has paid attention to the conditions on whether it will be possible in rural regions to attract an IR.

Brief news about Wakayama Casino 2017 (from the latest in order)

Wakayama prefecture association for promotion of an IR attraction

● Kii Minpo – Thursday, October 5


Wakayama prefecture, companies, university, Chamber of Commerce and local industry and related groups established the Wakayama association for IR promotion trying to promote an IR attraction. (September 29). They want to spread information about the effect on local economy and try to promote an understanding for residents.


It’s structured with 13 companies and groups such as the prefecture, the city, the Chamber of Commerce and local industry, Kiyo Bank, Okuwa, Asakawa Gumi, Wakayama agricultural association and the faculty of biology oriented science and technology at Kindai University. The office is located in the planning and general affairs department of the prefecture.

Candidate place for IR attraction is concentrated on Marina City

● Mii Minpou- Tuesday, May 9


At the regular press conference, on the 9th, Yoshinobu Nisaka, the mayor who has been aiming to attract an IR including a casino to Wakayama indicated that they will concentrate on Wakayama Marina City in Wakayama city as a candidate for the IR.


The prefecture originally indicated three places as IR candidate places including Marina City, Cosmo Park Kada and former Nanki Shirahama Airport Site in Shirahama-cho , because Marina City drew the most attention by vendors, they decided to concentrate on Marina City.


Now, the prefecture is planning to measure the vision to show their indications for the future.

Wakayama prefectural govenor feels confidence in the casino attraction

● Kii Minpo – Tuesday, April 16


Yoshinobu Nisaka, governor of Wakayama prefecture attended a forum for the IR including a casino held in Tokyo on the 16th and mentioned that he felt confident about the IR attraction being in Wakayama Marina City.


At the forum with the Japan Gaming Congress, there were IR operators, members of parliament and authorities on such matters gathered and the Governor Nisaka and Masahiro Obana ,Mayor of Wakayama publicly informed participants.



Governor Nisaka indicated in his interview that Marina City can be formed easily as it’s close to Kansai Airport and suits having a resort, so it would be very popular and he clarified how he wants to limit the numbers of entries possible for Japanese people as a gambling addiction measure.

Wakayama Mayor gave voice to IR attraction ‘Casino is for foreign people.’

● Asahi digital newspaper – Wednesday, February 15


About the IR attraction including a casino, Masahiro Obana the Mayor of Wakayama city mentioned that they will get on with progress towards implementation at the press conference on the 15th and said that they would embark on creating the attraction in the city.


Obana, the mayor of the city said, ‘We will utilize its close proximity to Kansai Airport and will aim to make a Wakayama version of an IR with plenty of marine leisure and tourism aspects.’



As a result of the citizen survey held in January, disagreement over creating the attraction became apparent because of concern over security deterioration and gambling addiction and written requests not go through with creating the attraction were submitted by a group working on relief aid for heavy debtors, so the mayor indicated that the casino facility will only be for use by foreign people and limited use by Japanese people.

Summary to 2016

Wakayama prefecture inaugurated the Casino Society of Local Government in 2003.


In 2007, they also inaugurated the Casino Entertainment Society as well addressing this to cities and economic organizations and a total of 11 cities and towns including Tanabe city, Shirahama city, Kushimoto-cho as well as Tanabe Camber and Commerce of Industry.



Further to that, in May, 2015, Wakayama city set a staff project team to make considerations about the attraction, but there was no activity after 2011 and the situation plateaued for a long time.


However, in December 2016, the amendment of the IR preparation promotion act was approved at the house of representatives and was established, and governor Yoshinobu Nisaka indicated that he was keen on creating an IR attraction and received attention as a candidate for the IR facility.



In the original plan for the long term comprehensive plan of the prefecture published in December, 2016, IR attraction candidates are narrowed down to three places in the prefecture such as Wakayama Marina City and Cosmo Park Kada in Wakayama city and Nanki shirahama airport site in Shirahama-cho.


Wakayama Marina City is drawing a lot of attention and the property is about 40 hectares, it was published that about 15 hectares will be used as a carpark as of 2017 and another 10 hectares is to be used for hotels and facilities.



Also, the location is convenient as it’s close to Kansai Airport and world known tourist spots are located nearby such as Kumanokodo, Mt. Takano and Ise Shrine (in Mie prefecture), so it is possibly the front runner candidate location for a rural IR attraction.


It is the home town of Toshihiro Nikai the Secretary‐General of the Liberal‐Democratic Party, so he will work on the IR attraction with full force as he is heavily in favor of creating it.