Japan elects first female PM as party backs IR policy
Japan’s parliament has elected Sanae Takaichi (pictured above) as the country’s first female prime minister, following months of political uncertainty after the Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) election losses in July.
Takaichi won 237 votes in the lower house, gaining a majority with support from her new coalition partner, the Osaka-based Japan Innovation Party, Ishin no Kai. The alliance was formed after the LDP’s longtime partner, Komeito, left the government over political scandals and policy disagreements.
The new coalition moves Japan’s government further to the right. It strengthens ties with Ishin no Kai, which advocates casino-integrated resorts as part of regional economic growth. Though the bloc remains short of a majority in both houses of parliament, the deal secures Takaichi’s position while aligning the ruling party with Ishin no Kai’s pro-IR stance.
LDP-Ishin coalition ties government to Osaka IR project
Several media reports claim that Takaichi’s alliance with Ishin no Kai connects her administration to Japan’s first integrated resort (IR) project in Osaka. Ishin no Kai leader and Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura have been key proponents of the MGM Osaka development, set to open in 2030.
Japan’s IR policy traces back to Takaichi’s political mentor, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who legalised casinos in 2018 to boost tourism and regional investment in the country. Based on reports, the coalition agreement between the LDP and Ishin no Kai is expected to keep that policy on track, even as Takaichi herself has not yet outlined a detailed position on casino development.
Under Japan’s IR framework, a maximum of three such resorts are allowed nationwide, combining casinos with hotels, convention centres, and entertainment complexes. Reports said that the coalition with Ishin no Kai, whose political base is in the first city to host an IR, reinforces the policy’s continued presence in the government’s economic platform.
MGM Osaka progress and new IR opportunities
Last August, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism confirmed that the MGM Osaka project is progressing steadily, with the detailed design phase nearly complete. Valued at JPY 1.27 trillion (€7.9 billion), the resort is being developed by MGM Resorts International, Orix Corp, and Japanese investors on Yumeshima Island in Osaka Bay.
Alongside Osaka, the Japanese government is preparing to reopen bidding for the remaining two IR licences. Yokosuka in Kanagawa prefecture is emerging as a potential site due to its proximity to Tokyo and strong transport links. Other regions, including Hokkaido and Yokohama, have also shown renewed interest.
The government views integrated resorts as tools for economic recovery and tourism growth. With the LDP-Ishin coalition now shaping national policy, the casino resort framework remains a key element of Japan’s long-term investment and tourism plans.
Economic focus under a fragile coalition
Japan’s new Prime Minister faces immediate challenges from inflation and a divided parliament, but the LDP’s alignment with Ishin no Kai offers a platform for economic cooperation. As MGM Osaka advances and new IR bids take shape, integrated resorts are reported to likely remain central to Japan’s economic agenda under the current ruling bloc, even as the new prime minister balances political and policy risks.
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