Inside Asian Gaming

IAG JAPAN MAY 2020 42 cultural, historical and traditional features. Suncity Group has expanded its business to 26 cities in 16 countries. It has deep research and understanding of IRs in various countries. “We are very confident that we can utilize our own resources, networks, advantages and experience in resort management and show the world a diversified Wakayama.” One of only two companies to respond to Wakayama’s RFP assessment call before the 30 April 2020 deadline, Suncity explains that the design of its Wakayama IR2.0 is based around three concepts closely linked to the region – “castle” which references Wakayama Castle, “garden” which imitates Rikugi-en Garden to reproduce the Wakayama Domain scenery in Man’y ō sh ū poetry – the oldest collection of “waka” poetry in Japan – and “port” due to the IR candidate location of Marina City. The idea, Suncity says, is to revive the area as an important port of some of Japan’s Five Routes that connected Tokyo with the outer provinces during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. If developed, Suncity’s Wakayama complex would offer 2,600 rooms and villas, restaurants and a sky lounge, hot springs and spas, a substantial exhibition venue, indoor sports facilities and boat tours to nearby coastal towns and tourist attractions. The group announced last October a budget of HK$30 billion to HK$35 billion (US$3.87 billion to US$4.52 billion) for its IR, which has been designed by international architecture firm, AEDAS Architects. “Other competitors are replicating what they’ve done before,” Suncity explains. “We’re not just building an IR JAPAN