Major issues loom as Kansai looks ahead to the new year
It was a busy 2019 for Kansai, particularly in the days leading up to the June Group of 20 leaders summit in Osaka. While the Tokyo Olympics will be the focus of much of the nation's attention in 2020, here are some major issues ...
Japan considering applying withholding tax to casino winnings of non-resident foreigners
The government is considering a plan to withhold taxes on winnings by nonresident foreigners at casino resorts, according to sources close to the matter. The government is studying the tax system because tracking down foreign nationals after they leave the country would be difficult, the ...
Hokkaido officially pulls out of casino resort bidding over environmental concerns
Gov. Naomichi Suzuki said there wasn’t enough time to draft protective measures, leaving at least four other areas in the running for Japan’s first three resorts.
Hokkaido may fold its hand in the nationwide bid to host a casino resort
Some residents voiced concerns about the environmental impact of building a so-called integrated resort housing a large hotel and conference rooms.
More and more municipalities in Japan are considering placing a bet on casinos following the enactment of a law last year that spelled out a raft of rules on the structure of the nation's planned integrated resorts (IR), nomenclature for casinos.
Any economic benefits of casinos come at far too steep of a price
Those who support bringing casinos to Japan boast of their economic benefits, but any perceived boon for the economy is far outweighed by their destructive consequences.
Casinos are misunderstood and a needed part of destination resorts
As a longtime member of a nonpartisan group of lawmakers promoting integrated resorts, my basic stance is to promote the introduction of IRs as a whole, rather than casinos alone.
60% of Japanese public against building nation's first casino resorts: survey
Almost 60 percent of the public is opposed to the government’s plans to build Japan’s first so-called integrated gambling resorts, highlighting widespread concern that public security will deteriorate with the entry of casinos, a Jiji opinion poll has found. According to the results of the ...
Eight areas in Japan considering bids to host casino resorts
Eight areas in Japan are considering hosting casinos as part of integrated resorts, tourism minister Kazuyoshi Akaba said Tuesday. The eight areas are Hokkaido, the city of Chiba, Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, a combined effort by Osaka Prefecture and the city of Osaka, Wakayama Prefecture and ...
Pressured by its struggling finances, Yokohama goes all in on casino bid
On a recent afternoon, Yamashita Park in Yokohama's waterfront was teeming with visitors — from lovey-dovey young couples to picnicking families and foreign tourists taking selfies in front of the ocean liner Hikawamaru, a museum ship permanently moored at the park. A short distance away, ...
Casino-hosting cities must help attract visitors from overseas, new draft government policy confirms
The government has released a draft policy to select cities capable of bringing more foreign visitors to the country as hosts of newly legalized casino resorts. Public opinions will be heard through Oct. 3, and the government will formally decide on the basic policy of ...
Casino giants crank up PR to snag first Japanese resort licenses
Since the enactment of a law in July 2018 legalizing casino gambling in Japan, large resort operators from the United States have been boosting public relations efforts as they plan bids to enter the budding market. With the law set to allow up to three ...
