Further delay to Japanese IR bill

A bill that would allow some casino resorts to be built in Japan will not be debated or passed until at least the end of 2016.

According to the Jiji Press news site, the majority Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has decided not to push the legislation during the current session as it does not want to risk alienating its coalition partner, the Buddhist-influenced Komeito party, ahead of this summer’s likely upper house election.

“The problem is whether an accord can be reached between the LDP and Komeito,” an LDP member told Jiji Press.

The Jiji Press report said that the LDP hopes to resume deliberations on the bill towards the end of the year.

The Integrated Resorts (IR) Bill was jointly introduced by the LDP and two other parties in 2015, but its progress was initially delayed as the LDP opted to concentrate on national security reform.

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