Yokohama elects new mayor but revival of city’s casino plans not on agenda

The Japanese city of Yokohama has a new mayor, with 59-year-old lawyer Atsumi Harasawa defeating six other candidates, including her controversial predecessor and noted anti-IR campaigner Takeharu Yamanaka, on Sunday. There seems little chance, however, that the new mayor will revive Yokohama’s IR plans after ruling out any such move during her election campaign. Yamanaka, who quashed the city’s IR bid after winning the 2021 election, resigned from his post last month following an investigation that uncovered evidence of bullying and abuse of power.