Yukio Fujiki, chairman of the Yokohama Port Harbor Resort Association and former chairman of the Yokohama Harbor Transport Association, has made it clear he would not support any candidate who supports integrated resorts in the Yokohama mayoral elections next summer.
The application period for an IR to the central government starts in October 2021, having recently been pushed back nine months from the original date of January 2021, meaning it will now take place after Yokohama’s mayoral election. The issue of IRs is expected to be a major campaigning point.
Fujiki attended an extended board meeting of the Harbor Resort Association last week to discuss the Yamashita Pier redevelopment plan based on the impacts of COVID-19.
Fujiki responded to a reporter after the meeting, reiterating his disapproval of the IR bid, saying he would oppose it with his life.
Fujiki mentioned that in the next mayoral election he would not offer support for any candidate who works as part of the bid and that this would be the main factor in his decision. He stated, “All the LDP are out. I’ll drop them myself.”
The association was established in 2019 with the goal of developing tourism in a way that does not rely on a casino. A total of 243 companies are participating in the group.
