Inside Asian Gaming

IAG AUG 2021年8月 亞博匯 94 JAPAN T he Yokohama mayoral election to take place on 22 August is an important fork in the road for the city’s IR bid. At time of publication, there were already 10 runners in the race, and things are starting to get interesting with the result of the election to determine whether Yokohama will continue its pursuit of an IR bid or consign it to the trash can of history. After a lengthy silence on her intentions, recent confirmation by incumbent mayor Fumiko Hayashi that she would contest and target a fourth term has given supporters of a Yokohama IR renewed hope. But with the eventual winner needing 25% of the vote to succeed, there is also the possibility that the city’s residents will be sent back to the polls for a second, or even a third, vote. Just weeks out from the election, there remain far more questions than answers at this stage. YOUNG AT HEART Mayor Fumiko Hayashi was first elected in 2009 with the recommendation of the Democratic Party, which was predecessor to the current Constitutional Democratic Party. In her second election in 2013, the national ruling party had returned to the Liberal Democratic Party/Komeito coalition, and Hayashi was reelected with the support not only of the ruling parties, but also of the opposition Democratic Party. Her third election in 2017 was under the