Lawmakers briefed on IR entertainment

Wednesday 19th of June 2019

The Japan IR Association (JIRA) held its third event within the Diet Building complex on June 19, this time focusing on the role of entertainment within Japan’s anticipated IR industry.

Among the speakers were Makoto Nakagawa, deputy-secretary general of the Abe Cabinet’s Office of Integrated Resort Regime Promotion; Amy Chai, vice-president at MGM Resorts International; Frederic Winckler, executive vice-president and chief marketing and brand officer of Melco Resorts & Entertainment; and Tetsuya Okazaki, a managing director of Shochiku Co. Ltd.

The presentations focused on various aspects of IRs’ entertainment offerings that would bring new experiences to Japan and become vital centers for tourism promotion.

Nakagawa highlighted the public policy aspects, emphasizing that the objective was to serve the public and national interest. He noted the potential for growing sports entertainment as a particularly welcome aspect.

Chai recounted the history of entertainment in Las Vegas, suggesting that similar developments could be produced in Japan. With a series of videos, she also drew attention to MGM’s current efforts in Osaka, including recent performances by the Jabbawockeez dance crew.

Winckler expanded on Melco’s “Seven New Rules of Entertainment” in considerable detail, emphasizing that his firm has its eyes focused on the future, next-generation technologies, where the old concept of entertainment “in boxes” is replaced by a borderless world of art and discovery.

About half a dozen national lawmakers stayed for most of the event, and there were about forty people in attendance in total.