Hokkaido as pulled out from the stiff race to host one integrated resort out of Japan’s first 3 IRs, thus becoming the first region to do so.

The island, the greatest prefecture in Japan, is situated only 20 minutes’ drive away from the New Chitose Airport and was an appropriate site for an integrated resort.

However, the 38-year-old Governor Naomichi Suzuki, who is the youngest prefecture leader in Japan, vetoe....