A lawmaker of the House of Representatives, Akimoto Tsukasa, was arrested, which shows us the nation’s muddy depth of corrupted politics. He was accused of accepting bribes over projects designed along the integrated resort (IR) policy – introduction of casinos combined with hotel and shopping moll development. The Abe government, however, overlooking the police investigation efforts on the bribery, established January 7 a committee to manage casino projects. Tasks to do now are, firstly, to probe exactly into what has happened in the scandal, and then to abrogate the casino act.

THOROUGH EXPLORATION AND ELIMINATION OF GAMBLING LAW NEEDED

Payments of dirty money

Mr. Akimoto was president of the Cabinet Committee of the House of Representatives, serving as Vice Minister of the Cabinet Office who was in charge of the casino issue. The bill was zealously supported by him and was enacted to be the IR=integrated resorts act. Testimonies obtained from the bribe payers revealed that several lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party were the recipients and that they had some relationship with the IR projects, which is regarded as a profitable business. The disclosure of fraud eloquently shows very nature of casino operation.

Gambling is a game in which a player loses while a banker wins. A player, if addicted, faces a hell of debts, a loss of job, a suicide and a crime. It destroys his/her life, which cannot be repeated for a second time. Gambling has produced innumerable tragedies

Casinos bring more addicts and provide money-laundering with chances, which erodes in effect the criminal code prohibiting gambles.

The Japan Federation of Bar Associations presented in 2014 a written opinion to the government, in which it defines the addiction as an extraordinarily serious disease which is chronic, progressive and hard to cure. If it is left intact, it may lead to a suicide. The document underlines hazards that a casino business brings into the society: a growing number of persons with multiple debts and harmful effects on education of young people.

It emphasizes that it is hard to cope with problems stemming from addiction, once it prevails, and that it is vital to take steps to prevent addicts from emerging.

Addition to gambling

You see a shocking figure; 4.8% of the adult Japanese population, or 5.36 million, are supposed to be addicted. That was proven by a task group of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare that conducted a survey in 2014. Focusing on male patients, the number reaches 8.7%, which is 4.38 million. You can compare it with that of the US, 1.58% (2002), Hong Kong, 1.8% (2001), and Republic of Korea, 0.8% (2006). The figure for Japanese is extremely high.

You can surely find a Pachinko shop near a railway station of big cities across the country. A public-sector gambling, such as races of horses, bicycles and boats, is popular here. Addiction to gambling must be investigated thoroughly and measures should be taken immediately to thwart evil consequences.

Bolstering economies?!

The Abe government, however, regards a casino business as the key to economic growth. The parliament lifted restrictions with the majority’s force. Surprisingly enough, a casino owner is legally allowed to loan money to a player. If the debtor is overdue, its interest rate is set as high as 14.6%. This means the state government approves a situation where an addict should be surrounded by sharks.

The four opposition parties, including the Constitutional Democratic Party, will present January 20, when the ordinary Diet session begins, a bill to abolish the IR act, which legalizes casinos, in order to probe into the bribery scandal and to put an end to casinos. The opposition parties are ready to fight against the government.

We, the New Socialist Party of Japan, express determination to fight together in the same struggle.

January 21, 2020