Japan: board approval, Yokohama opposition

Japan’s Upper House has approved the appointment of Michio Kitamura as chairman of the Casino Management Board, which will oversee the country’s casino resort industry, Inside Asian Gaming reported.

Kitamura is the former defence ministry inspector general. Other members of the board include former National Tax Agency director Hiroyuki Ujikane, psychiatrist Michiko Watari, risk governance professor Noriko Endo and former Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department superintendent general Takeshi Higuchi.

Those members are still awaiting approval from the house.

The board launches in January.

Elsewhere, opponents of Yokohama’s casino launched a website to provide information and co-ordinate actions of anti-casino groups.

The site includes links to relevant city documents, media and contact information for anti-casino group members.