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Read Full BioA Japanese Mayor has dismissed reports that a Nissan Motor plant that is set to halt production in 2027 could become a casino.
The comments came from Yokosuka Mayor Katsuaki Kamiji, the Japanese media outlet Livedoor reported, in response to a question from a member of the public during a council meeting on September 1.
In 2025, Nissan announced that its Oppama Plant, in Yokosuka’s Natsushima District, Kanagawa Prefecture, would cease vehicle production at the end of 2027.
The future fate of the plant has since become the topic of much heated debate in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Kamiji noted that there “have been some reports” that the factory had become a “candidate site for an integrated resort that includes a casino.” However, he said: “I have not received any report about this from Nissan. [Building an integrated casino] would not be a suitable option for Oppama.”
Nissan Plant: Casino Options?
The mayor was speaking after a report, published by the Japanese newspaper Shukan Bunshun last month, claimed that the plant has “suddenly emerged as a leading candidate” to become an integrated casino-resort.
The Japanese government plans to select a maximum of three prefectures to host integrated casino-resorts (IRs) over the course of the next few years.
The newspaper, which specializes in exposé stories and investigative journalism, reported that some prefectures, which had previously shown interest in the projects, have fallen behind in the running.
Shukan Bunshun wrote: “One site that has suddenly emerged as an option is the Oppama factory.”
The newspaper quoted unnamed sources close to the deliberations as stating that Oppama was now being viewed as a serious candidate for IR development.
The same article’s author claimed that Tokyo, Hokkaido, Aichi, and Nagasaki prefectures have all expressed an interest in IR projects.
But, the outlet wrote, various issues have emerged in recent months that could derail Hokkaido, Aichi, and Nagasaki’s chances of selection.
The outlet also said that the government was likely to complete its selection process by the end of 2027.
The Oppama Plant went online in the early 1960s. Nissan directly employs around 10% of Yokosuka residents, media reports claim.
Kamiji last year gained international attention when his offices announced that an AI-powered avatar of the mayor would begin delivering regular English-language addresses to Yokosuka residents.
Major international casino operators have previously expressed an interest in opening venues in Japan. These include the likes of MGM.
A major crackdown on illegal gambling is underway in Japan, amid revelations that overseas sports betting sites are aggressively targeting Japanese citizens.
