New Land Regulation Law has potential to impact Nagasaki IR plans

It has also been expressed that adding security to the evaluation criteria for an IR developer and operator will create difficulties, according to the Nagasaki Shimbun.

The Critical Land Regulation Law was passed in June and covers a 1km area around facilities deemed important for security, such as defense force bases, nuclear power plants and remote islands near borders that are designated as special watch areas, regulating use of this land. The law also requires advance notification of the name and nationality of purchasers prior to the sale of land and buildings in such areas.

Nagasaki prefecture is located on the western-most tip of mainland Japan, facing the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea. Sasebo city is not only host to the candidate IR location of Huis Ten Bosch but also the location of many defense and US military bases. There are also many bases near Nagasaki Airport across Omura Bay.

According to the Nagasaki Shimbun, Policy Director Shinichi Yoshida was asked Friday about how the law would impact IR plans, replying “[With the evaluation criteria decided before the law being passed in June] it is very difficult to reflect in the evaluation [of IRs]. [The regulation] is national policy so we will discuss it with the national government and gather information.”

Nagasaki has already entered the secondary screening stage and with candidate IR operators now down to three: Oshidori Consortium, Casinos Austria and NIKI Chyau Fwu (Parkview) Group.

The prefecture is due to hand down its decision on its chosen IR operator in August.

by Shintaro Kamimura