Japan Press Weekly

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2020 January 29 - February 4 [POLITICS]

Japanese advisory firm to US major casino operator bought pro-casino lawmakers' fundraising party tickets

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Daimon Mikishi in an Upper House Budget Committee meeting on January 31 took up the issue that a Japanese advisory firm to the U.S. major casino operator Caesars Entertainment had provided funding to pro-casino lawmakers by purchasing their fundraising party tickets.

Dietmember Hagiuda Koichi, the sitting Minister of Education, admitted to accepting the funding but said, "I did not know that that advisory company had a connection to the IR (integrated resorts) operator."

Daimon demanded that funding from overseas casino businesses be reported to the Diet Budget Committee. Hagiuda in response said, "If the House of Councilors instructs us to do so, we will abide by that instruction."

Another issue Daimon brought up was a speech made by Hagiuda at a meeting of casino supporters in Osaka in August of last year. According to Daimon, in regard to renewals of the statutory period of casino businesses (first for ten years and every five years after that), Hagiuda said, "If a municipality after ten years says it no longer wants the IR facility in its community, this municipality would be sued in court."

Regarding this remark, Hagiuda said, "I was just saying that all municipalities would face the risk of being taken to court if they decide to not extend the permission for IR operators to remain who have not made any legal violations."

Daimon in response said, "You are putting operators' profits before local people's wishes and the spirit of the law."

Past related article:
> Extra-ministerial casino bureau set up amid bribery scandal [January 8, 2020]
> Casino implementation law forcibly enacted [July 21, 2018]
> JCP Daimon grills pro-casino forces regarding political funds obtained from US major casino operator [July 13, 2018]