November 11, 2016
The Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA) held a rally on November 10 in the Upper House members’ office building in opposition to a bill to legalize casino operations in Japan. The participants resolved to work hard to scrap the measure which is expected to do more harm than good to people’s livelihoods.
JFBA Vice President Iwabuchi Takehiko said in his opening address, “Many people are concerned about the removal of a ban on casinos. We held this meeting to increase our shared awareness of the problems associated with the bill.”
Shizuoka University Professor Torihata Yoichi delivered the keynote speech. He said, “If integrated resort (IR) facilities are opened based on this legislation, foreign casino operators will pour into our country and begin to siphon out Japanese money. In the end, it will not help in revitalizing Japan’s national and regional economies.”
Lawyer Narumi Akiko noted, “The government has failed to implement even minimum countermeasures to tackle gambling addiction. It’s outrageous to introduce casino businesses under such circumstances.”
Masuda Etsuko, the managing director of the Japan Association of Consumer Affairs Specialists, warned, “The legalization of the casino business will lead to increasing the number of multiple debtors.”
The rally was also joined by lawmakers from the opposition parties, including the Japanese Communist and Democratic parties. JCP member of the House of Representatives Shimazu Yukihiro said in his speech expressing solidarity, “The JCP has agreed with the DP to work together to block the start of Diet deliberations on the bill. We will do our best to kill the measure together with the general public.”
The legislation to legalize casinos was proposed by a nonpartisan league of Dietmembers, mostly consisting of ruling party legislators. They aim to enact it by the end of the current Diet session.
Past related article:
> Lawyers hold rally to oppose bill to legalize casinos [October 5, 2016]
JFBA Vice President Iwabuchi Takehiko said in his opening address, “Many people are concerned about the removal of a ban on casinos. We held this meeting to increase our shared awareness of the problems associated with the bill.”
Shizuoka University Professor Torihata Yoichi delivered the keynote speech. He said, “If integrated resort (IR) facilities are opened based on this legislation, foreign casino operators will pour into our country and begin to siphon out Japanese money. In the end, it will not help in revitalizing Japan’s national and regional economies.”
Lawyer Narumi Akiko noted, “The government has failed to implement even minimum countermeasures to tackle gambling addiction. It’s outrageous to introduce casino businesses under such circumstances.”
Masuda Etsuko, the managing director of the Japan Association of Consumer Affairs Specialists, warned, “The legalization of the casino business will lead to increasing the number of multiple debtors.”
The rally was also joined by lawmakers from the opposition parties, including the Japanese Communist and Democratic parties. JCP member of the House of Representatives Shimazu Yukihiro said in his speech expressing solidarity, “The JCP has agreed with the DP to work together to block the start of Diet deliberations on the bill. We will do our best to kill the measure together with the general public.”
The legislation to legalize casinos was proposed by a nonpartisan league of Dietmembers, mostly consisting of ruling party legislators. They aim to enact it by the end of the current Diet session.
Past related article:
> Lawyers hold rally to oppose bill to legalize casinos [October 5, 2016]
