Osaka IR, Osaka Casino Resort Plan Debated. Unified Election is Going On.

2023-03-30 2023-04-08

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The unified local elections have begun in Japan.

In these elections, candidates for positions such as governor, mayor of designated cities, and mayor or ward chief of various local governments are campaigning to convey their policy and views to citizens. Candidates use microphones to speak in front of stations or ride election cars and repeatedly call out their names to make voters know.

The voting day for the governor and the mayor of designated cities is April 9th, while the voting day for other mayors, ward chiefs, and town mayors is on April 23rd.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications...

Local government council members and mayoral elections are conducted uniformly throughout Japan. Every four years, from March to May, the terms of many council members and mayors in local governments expire. To ensure smooth and efficient voting, and effective communication with voters, the election dates are unified.

This year, the election for council members and mayors in local governments whose terms expire from March 1st to May 31st will be held. The elections for prefectures and designated cities will be on April 9th, while the elections for cities, special wards, and towns other than designated cities will be on April 23rd.

The Hot Topic in Osaka

The hot topic in Osaka Prefecture is the plan to attract an Integrated Resort (IR). An IR refers to a complex resort facility that includes a casino. Rules and processes related to the construction of an IR were established in a law enacted in 2016.

In Osaka, a plan has been submitted to the government to develop a casino, international conference center, exhibition hall, and other facilities on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay, with an opening planned for the autumn to winter of 2029.

Different types of IRs, such as those found in Singapore or Las Vegas, are being considered, but once it is realized, it is expected to attract many foreign customers, leading to the revitalization of the region.