TLDR
- Independent candidate Kazuma Nakatani has pledged to block casino development in Yokohama if he wins the mayoral race.
- Nakatani plans to push for a local ordinance banning casino construction after taking office.
- The Constitutional Democratic Party’s Kanagawa chapter has endorsed his campaign.
- The race follows the resignation of former mayor Takeharu Yamanaka, who halted Yokohama’s casino resort plans in 2021.
- Genting Singapore and Melco Resorts & Entertainment both withdrew from Yokohama projects and closed local offices after that decision.
Kazuma Nakatani, an independent candidate running for mayor of Yokohama, has promised to keep casinos out of the city. He says he will work to pass a local ordinance banning casino construction if he wins the election.
The pledge was reported by Kanagawa Shimbun. It places Nakatani firmly against any future casino resort development in Yokohama.
Nakatani’s campaign also includes promises to address harassment issues in the city. Public broadcast reports have backed up his stance on maintaining Yokohama’s current policy against casino development.
Political Support and Campaign Timeline
The mayoral race comes after former mayor Takeharu Yamanaka resigned from office. Official campaigning is set to begin on October 4, with voting scheduled for October 18.
The Constitutional Democratic Party’s Kanagawa chapter has thrown its support behind Nakatani’s independent bid. The endorsement signals party backing for his anti casino platform heading into the election.
Voters in Yokohama will decide the outcome next month. The race is being watched as a test of how the city’s residents feel about gambling development.
Background on Yokohama’s Casino Debate
Yamanaka won the Yokohama mayoral seat in 2021 and stopped the city’s pursuit of an integrated resort soon after taking office. That decision led two gaming companies to pull out of the city.
Genting Singapore and Melco Resorts & Entertainment both withdrew from their planned Yokohama projects. Both companies closed their local offices following Yamanaka’s move.
Yokohama has faced ongoing debate over gambling resort development for years. Past decisions in the city continue to shape how residents and officials view future casino proposals.
The current election gives voters another chance to weigh in on the issue. A win for Nakatani would extend the city’s anti casino stance that began under Yamanaka.
If Nakatani wins and passes his proposed ordinance, Yokohama would formally become a city closed to casino operations. How the rule would be written and enforced remains unclear at this stage.
The outcome may also factor into how national and prefectural officials handle gaming policy. Japan’s national framework for casinos is still developing, and local decisions like this one could shape how other cities approach similar proposals.
Nakatani’s platform will face scrutiny from opponents and voters as the formal campaign period begins. The next few weeks will show whether his anti casino message resonates with residents.
Campaigning officially starts on October 4, leading up to the October 18 vote. Yokohama residents will then decide whether the city continues down the path Yamanaka set in 2021, or takes a different direction under new leadership.
