Kitakyushu city mayor, Kenji Kitahashi, announced on 30 January that the city would forego application for an IR to the national government, joining the likes of Hokkaido and Chiba on the sidelines.
After the prefecture’s team considered the development plans submitted by three operators from the US and Asia, the conclusion was that, based on the current IR Development Act provisions, the property would be “too big” and “difficult to realize.”
Operators had visited Kitakyushu after some city council members and local businesses started making efforts for an IR bid in the city. The development plans of the three operators focused on the area north of JR Kokura Station.
Mayor Kitahashi said, “Most of our candidate locations already have a lot of buildings, and it would be a difficult endeavor considering the profit risk, the opportunities for local citizens and the deadline for submission to the national government.”
On the other hand, he did not completely close the door in the long-term, adding, “We will continue to study the concept.”
