A candidate running for the Yokohama mayor position vows to maintain the city free of casino gambling if he emerges victorious in the upcoming special election scheduled for Oct. 18.
Formally announcing his candidacy during a press conference on Sept. 12, Kazuma Nakatani, a former member of Japan’s House of Representatives, joins attorney Atsumi Harasawa and business executive Atsushi Fukuyama in the race for mayor.
Nakatani, supported by the Constitutional Democratic Party, is taking the strongest stance against Yokohama considering an integrated resort (IR). The city previously contemplated an IR casino project until Takeharu Yamanaka’s election in 2021, prompting the immediate halt of casino deliberations.
Following Yamanaka’s resignation on Sept. 7 due to derogatory remarks towards his staff, the special election is estimated to cost Yokohama over 1.5 billion yen (US$9.7 million).
Opposition to Casinos
Harasawa, backed by the Liberal Democratic Party, has stated she has no plans to pursue an IR project. She recently declared the casino issue as “resolved.”
Fukuyama has not publicly discussed the casino matter, emphasizing his focus on “city administration reform” rather than IR discussions. Nakatani is committed to keeping a Las Vegas or Macau-style casino out of Japan’s second most populous city.
I would like to consult with the city council about a casino ban ordinance, and if it can be passed, I would like to realize a situation during my term where procedures are not carried out without the knowledge of the citizens,” Nakatani said.
Nakatani aims to “create a warmer Yokohama” that enhances the happiness of its residents. He believes casino gambling contradicts this vision.
Serving in the National Diet from October 2017 to January 2026, Nakatani represented Southern Kanto. The 43-year-old previously held a position in the Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly.
Nakatani lost his seat in the Diet during the February 2026 election to LDP candidate Keisuke Suzuki.
Importance of Yokohama
Japan is anticipated to conduct a second IR bidding round next year, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi continuing Shinzo Abe’s tourism and leisure expansion plans.
Currently, it remains uncertain how much interest major casino developers have, as no significant city or prefecture has officially expressed interest in hosting an IR aside from Osaka.
To date, only Hokkaido and Aichi have shown interest in participating in the IR bidding process.