Yokohama Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka Resigns Over Bullying Claims as Japan Prepares Second Round of IR Applications
TL;DR — Takeharu Yamanaka, the anti-IR mayor who ended Yokohama’s casino bid in 2021, has resigned after an investigation confirmed bullying and abuse claims. A new mayoral election is set before October ends. The move coincides with Japan’s planned second IR bidding round from May to November 2027.
SCCG Take — Yamanaka’s exit removes a key barrier to IR development in a formerly strong candidate city precisely as additional national licenses become available.
Takeharu Yamanaka has resigned as mayor of Yokohama after the city council unanimously approved his departure over substantiated claims of bullying and abuse of power. The 54-year-old, who campaigned against integrated resorts and ended the city’s bid in 2021, stepped down this week.
According to reporting by Inside Asian Gaming, Yamanaka expressed his intention to resign in late August amid pressure from several major political parties. Yokohama will hold an election for a new mayor before the end of October.
Yamanaka’s Anti-IR Campaign and Its Impact
Takeharu Yamanaka won the 2021 mayoral election on a vocal anti-IR platform, defeating pre-election favorite Hachiro Okonogi and incumbent Fumiko Hayashi after describing casinos as a “poison apple.” In his policy speech in September 2021, he withdrew Yokohama’s IR application and closed the IR Promotion Office.
Yokohama had been viewed as one of the strongest candidate cities. Genting Singapore and Melco Resorts & Entertainment pursued it aggressively before his election. Melco adopted a “Yokohama First” policy that included local tourism events, sponsorship of Yokohama F. Marinos, a partnership with Naomi Osaka, and projects to support shopping arcades impacted by the pandemic. The company later released a fly-through video of its IR concept after closing its Yokohama office.
Timing Aligns with Second Round of National IR Bidding
Only one IR license was awarded in the first process, to Osaka, where the US$10 billion MGM Osaka project is scheduled to open in 2030.
Japan is set to launch a second round of bidding for up to two more IRs, with the application period running from 6 May to 5 November 2027. Hokkaido and Aichi have officially confirmed their interest.
The investigation found Yamanaka engaged in verbal abuse, shouted and threw documents at city employees, and made derogatory remarks. He had won re-election in August 2025 before the complaint surfaced earlier this year. In his statement, Yamanaka said, “I did not fully consider the weight of my words and actions as mayor and how they might be perceived by others. Based on the results of the investigation, I felt I had to take responsibility for the stress my behavior caused city employees.”
Reporting: Inside Asian Gaming
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
Yamanaka killed Yokohama's casino dream in 2021; his exit reopens the door as Japan preps two more IR licenses.
Yokohama was a top-tier IR candidate before Yamanaka torched the bid on an anti-casino platform. His resignation—right before Japan's second application window in May 2027—creates a narrow window for operators who never stopped believing in the market. Timing matters, and this is a credible second chance.
- Yamanaka resigned after bullying investigation; new mayor elected by October
- Japan's second IR round runs May–November 2027, up to two licenses available
- Genting and Melco heavily courted Yokohama before 2021; market fundamentals intact
SCCG angle: SCCG has maintained relationships with Japanese stakeholders and global IR operators through the freeze. If Yokohama pivots, we connect the right developers, architects, and regulatory advisors to move fast in a compressed timeline—no starting from scratch.
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