Empty Debate on Casino

The National Diet of Japan held the debate by party leaders, or Question Time, on Wednesday. While QT was originally designated to be held every Wednesday, it was the first time in this extraordinary session after the convocation in September 26^th. To the argument of President of Democratic Party, Renho, that Casino would not yield any growth, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe focused on his traditional way of talking that “That’s why you are wrong.” QT was degraded to be a blame game as it had been with Abe administration.

Renho labeled Integrated Resort Coordination Promotion Bill as undignified. “Leading to multiple debt, collapse of family, and finally suicide, those are horrible consequences of addiction to gambling,” Renho started her argument. After unilateral voting led by Liberal Democratic Party in House of Representatives two days before, the bill is in the procedure in House of Councillors, expecting to be passed on Friday. “Casino is gambling. Why did you push the bill with discussion for only five hours and thirty-three minutes?” asked Renho.

Abe introduced his experience when he visited Singapore two years ago and see the casino there annexed to hotel, theater or shopping mall. “Only three percent of the site was used for casino,” told Abe. Trying to shift the talking point, Abe accused Renho of her staff being included in presenters of the bill. “Your close staff, Mito Kakizawa, is one of the presenters. Can’t you control your board members?” said Abe. Renho accused lawmakers with LDP who did not allow Kakizawa stepping out.

The core of Renho’s argument was relation between gambling and economic growth. “Benefit of casino consists of loser’s money. It does not yield added value like service business or manufacturing. In what term is gambling a growth producer?” asked Renho. The answer was surprisingly irresponsible. “This is a bill submitted by lawmakers. I do not have any responsibility to answer,” said Abe. He was saying as if he had not been President of LDP, which lawmakers submitted the bill supposedly for Abe who had long been promoting casino policy, but the leader of the executive branch.

Meanwhile, Renho criticized unilateral procedure on bills led by LDP. “You always exhaling lies. See ratification of Trans-Pacific Partnership, pension-cutting bill or casino. Everything is lying, isn’t it?” told Renho reminding of Abe’s former remark in this session that he had never thought of unilateral voting. Abe reiterated that he could not answer the questions, because the opposite lawmakers were chanting against Abe. “I can’t talk,” or “Be quiet, please” was ordinary excuse for Abe not to answer the questions.