TOKYO -- The result of the Yokohama mayoral election on Sunday has cast another shadow over Japan's ambitions to build massive casino resorts, a drive that was already under strain due to the withdrawal of interest by key foreign players amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Takeharu Yamanaka, a former professor at Yokohama City University, will become mayor on Aug. 30. On Monday he told news outlets he intends to make a declaration "at an early stage" that the city of Yokohama, next to Tokyo, will not apply to join the bidding process to host a casino.
