Philippines-based Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment, operator of Okada Manila and a unit of the Universal Entertainment Corporation, will open an office in Tokyo with the aim of entering the Japanese IR race.

Under its former chairman Kazuo Okada, Universal Entertainment had long possessed ambitions to open one of Japan’s first IRs, but with the scandals surrounding Okada and his ouster from the company last year, it had been uncertain whether or not Universal Entertainment would be making a serious bid.

The opening of the Tiger Resort office in Tokyo answers that question in the affirmative. The Tokyo office will be run by Toji Takeuchi, who has served in a number of executive positions since joining Universal Entertainment in October 2009.

A Universal Entertainment IR bid will bring with it the advantages of being a native Japanese company as well as its experience and network associated with its operation of Okada Manila; but on the negative side, it remains engaged in a difficult legal battle with company founder Okada, who has made clear that he desires to retake control of the firm.

Source: Asia Gaming Brief