April 15, 2023

Japanese Communist Party Policy Commission Chair Tamura Tomoko on April 14 at a press conference in the Diet building demanded that the Kishida government withdraw its approval for a casino-centric integrated resort (IR) plan submitted by the Osaka prefectural and city governments. She also demanded the cancellation of the planned casino construction by the Osaka prefectural and city authorities.

Tamura criticized Prime Minister Kishida’s remark that the proposed casino construction will attract many domestic and foreign tourists. She said, “Casino enterprises are a business model that takes advantage of people’s misery and misfortune, which means that casino business operators make profits thanks to many gambling losers. It is unacceptable for the government to use casinos as a tool to boost Japan’s tourism.”

Tamura questioned the government explanation that it will apply regulations to the planned casino facilities in order to prevent gambling addiction. She pointed out that an agreement concluded by the Osaka prefectural and city authorities with a casino operator included provisions allowing the withdrawal of the agreement in the event that the operator has difficulty in maintaining international competitiveness due to the imposition of tight restrictions aimed at protecting players from gambling-related problems. She said, “It is highly likely that the government’s claim to regulate will become an empty promise.”

Tamura pointed out that the Osaka authorities spent a huge amount of tax money for measures to deal with the liquefaction and soil contamination risk at the planned casino site in Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka City. She said that the government approval for the problematic Osaka casino project should be retracted.