This past Sunday, a number of cities across Japan held local elections to choose their new leaders. In virtually all the locations that have shown favor toward an integrated resort (IR), the cities have chosen to keep or bring in pro-IR candidates. This will almost certainly give those cities a leg up when the IR bidding war truly heats up.

According to a report by GGR, Tomakomai in the Hokkaido prefecture now has better IR support in the city council. The city has an “IR promotion group” that is backed by individuals of different parties and which will now be strengthened to further its campaign.

Tomakomai is located on the southern coast of Japan’s most northern island. It has long been viewed by the area as the perfect spot for an IR and this was reiterated in March by an advisory panel commissioned by the local government.

Sasebo in Nagasaki also saw an increase in its IR support when it reelected incumbent mayor Nori Tomonaga. The mayor received 78.2% of the vote and is backed by the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, both of which are the currently ruling parties in Japan.