Hokkaido governor to seek April 2027 re-election, cites pending initiatives including IR: reports

Naomichi Suzuki, the governor of Japan’s Hokkaido prefecture, which has expressed interest in having an integrated resort (IR) with casino, is to seek re-election in a poll due in April 2027. That is according to local news reports reviewed by GGRAsia’s Japan correspondent. Mr Suzuki (pictured in a file photo) was also governor when Hokkaido decided in 2019 that it would not make an IR submission in a first round of applications to the national government. The Hokkaido Shimbun reported on Friday that his administration’s economic revitalisation initiatives for the prefecture, including a possible IR, were among the main reasons for his decision to seek another term. The report additionally mentioned plans for a new industrial cluster – known as “Hokkaido Valley” – that would see development of semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence (AI) -related enterprises, along with supporting infrastructure, by 2050. The cluster would be centred on Chitose City and the Ishikari region, per earlier news reports. The Hokkaido Shimbun’s latest report also mentioned Hokkaido’s aim to be part of Japan’s “secondary capital” concept. That is a national initiative to establish backup administrative and economic functions outside the country’s capital, Tokyo, in case of a major disaster. Hokkaido and its principal city, Sapporo, are reported to be actively pursuing this designation alongside regions including Osaka, Aichi, and Fukuoka. Osaka is so far the only Japanese metropolis to be developing a casino resort. The JPY1.51-trillion (US$9.55-billion currently) MGM Osaka is due to open at the end of 2030. Aichi this month completed a request-for-proposal process among possible commercial partners for an IR project. Ōtō town in Japan’s Fukuoka prefecture is also interested in hosting an IR, according to a media report last month. On Thursday, Yoshinobu Tsutsui, chairman of the Japan Business Federation, held a press conference in Sapporo. He was cited by local media as saying of a possible Hokkaido IR: “An IR should contribute to the area to maintain its international competitiveness and bring a strong economic ripple effect. “It is important for Hokkaido prefecture to take the lead in creating business opportunities and fostering international exchange.” Mr Tsutsui was also cited as saying of the Hokkaido Valley initiative: “It has the potential to become a crucial pillar supporting the nation’s overall economic security and industrial competitiveness.” New Chitose Airport, the main air hub serving Sapporo, is near Chitose City, in the area of the proposed industrial cluster. The airport is about 52 kilometres (32 miles) south of Sapporo, and about 30 kilometres north of Tomakomai. Tomakomai has been reported as the front runner location should Hokkaido make a formal pitch to have an IR. Japan’s second application window for local governments interested in hosting a casino resort is due to run from May 6 to November 5, 2027. The Hokkaido administration has so far not indicated whether it would participate in the next application round. Last month, eight business organisations in the prefecture submitted a request to Mr Suzuki, urging his administration to move forward with the IR idea.