Society

Japan's casino resort candidates put finishing touches on bids

Aug 09 (Japan Times) - OSAKA – Japan’s long-running mission to get casino resorts off the ground has been delayed not only because of the coronavirus but also due to related political scandals and public opposition.

As Yokohama prepares for a mayoral election on Aug. 22, it and other localities hoping for a casino resort are moving forward with plans to formally finalize their proposals, which the central government will accept from October until April 28, 2022. A maximum of three locations for the so-called integrated resorts (IR) — which combine casinos with hotels and other facilities — will then be formally announced sometime after May.

Yokohama

Late last month, Yokohama City Hall opened an exhibition showcasing design concepts from the two operators bidding for the IR. Yokohama has not disclosed whose concepts were on display at the exhibition. But Genting Singapore and Macau’s Melco Resorts & Entertainment have publicly expressed a desire to bid for a casino project in the city. The display at the city’s Yamashita Pier included images and architectural models and ran until Saturday.

Wakayama

The city of Wakayama’s port district is the location for a proposed IR. Last month, the prefecture formally selected Clairvest Neem Ventures, a subsidiary of Canadian private equity management firm Clairvest Group Inc., as the operator partner. Clairvest has promised an initial investment of ¥470 billion.

Osaka

Osaka Prefecture and the city of Osaka are supporting a consortium led by America’s MGM Resorts International and Orix, which are proposing to build a casino resort in Osaka bay on the city’s Yumeshima artificial island. The resort plan, which calls for a ¥1 trillion initial investment, includes a hotel facility of at least 100,000 square meters with between 2,000 and 2,500 rooms, as well as a 20,000 square meter exhibition hall that can hold up to 6,000 people.

Nagasaki Prefecture

Unlike Osaka and Wakayama, where local governments have already chosen who they want to partner with for an IR, Nagasaki has three candidate operators whose proposals are being considered. One is from the Oshidori Consortium, led by Oshidori International Development, which, in turn, is part of Oshidori International Holdings Inc., a Hong Kong entity. Casinos Austria and NIKI Chyau Fwu (Parkview) Group, a Japan-Taiwanese consortium, are also submitting bids. The winner is expected to be decided this month.

Year-End Chaos in Shibuya: Street Drinking, Brawls, and Ambulance Dispatches

The streets of Shibuya became a chaotic scene during the year-end party season, with excessive drinking leading to public disorder. People were found sleeping on the streets, fights broke out among groups of young revelers, and police and emergency services were frequently called to intervene.

New Japanese Passport Applications to Go Online

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has unveiled a new passport design set to be issued from March next year. The new system will allow online applications not only for renewals but also for new passport requests. Submitting an original family register certificate will no longer be required for online applications.

Future of Solar Power: Japan's Breakthrough Technology

The next generation of solar cells, known as perovskite solar panels, are ultra-thin, lightweight, and bendable. The Japanese government has set a goal of achieving the equivalent of the energy output from 20 nuclear reactors with perovskite solar cells by 2040. With their use set to expand in various locations next year, 2024 is being called "the dawn of domestic perovskite."

Record 7,000 Teachers in Japan on Leave Due to Mental Health

The number of teachers taking mental health leave reached a record high of 7,119 in the 2023 fiscal year at public schools across Japan.

Japan Reports 60% Rise in Non-Consensual Intercourse Cases

Japan's Ministry of Justice has released this year’s crime white paper, revealing that the number of recognized penal code offenses increased for the second consecutive year.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Santa Drops Presents Over Southern Islands

Santa takes to the skies, delivering presents to southern islands. From the rear of an open transport aircraft, boxes equipped with parachutes descend to the ground, marked by the glow of a blue light. These deliveries, bringing joy to residents of remote islands in the South Pacific, are part of an international joint exercise involving Japan's Air Self-Defense Force since 2015.

Japan Reports 60% Rise in Non-Consensual Intercourse Cases

Japan's Ministry of Justice has released this year’s crime white paper, revealing that the number of recognized penal code offenses increased for the second consecutive year.

Suspect Nabbed Following Brutal Kitakyushu Stabbings

Police in Kitakyushu have arrested Masanori Hirahara, a 43-year-old unemployed man living near the crime scene, on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the stabbing of two junior high school students at a fast-food restaurant.

Drug Shortages Worsen as Influenza Surges Across Japan

Influenza cases in Japan have surged since early December, with a sharp increase in patient reports per medical institution. At a Towa Pharmaceutical factory in Yamagata, demand has exceeded supply despite last year’s facility expansion.

Skeleton Found in Author's 'Garbage House'

Police have arrested Takashima Nozomu, a 64-year-old author on suspicion of leaving a body in his apartment in Shinagawa, Tokyo.

Elderly Woman Stabbed at Kobe Subway Station

An elderly woman was stabbed by another woman inside Kobe’s Sannomiya subway station, leading to the suspect’s arrest at the scene on charges of attempted murder.

Japan to Accept Unusual Baby Names

Japanese 'kira-kira names,' with atypical pronunciation or meaning, could soon be partially accepted under certain conditions, according to proposed guidelines from Japan's Ministry of Justice.

Grief and Anxiety Grow After Fatal Kitakyushu Stabbing

The mourning ceremony for 15-year-old Nakashima Saya, who was fatally stabbed at a fast-food restaurant in Kitakyushu City, was held on Tuesday. The attack, which took place four days ago, left Nakashima dead and a male student seriously injured with a deep wound near his waist. Police continue to search for the suspect, who fled the scene immediately after the attack.

< 2 3 4 5 >