Matsunami demands "civilian" riji

[Kintamayama 44,349]

Mr. Matsunami, Special Cabinet Minister from the Education, Sport etc. Ministry who is also their supervisor over Sumo, has blatantly and unequivocally renewed his demand to consider outsiders for the posts of riji and kanji in the future. This, after meeting Kitanoumi rijicho today. "I'd like the Kyokai to be more transparent. I'd like this topic (of bringing in an outsider)to be discussed at the next rijikai. This advice given out by the body overseeing sumo should not be taken lightly!!", he said harshly. "Well, I will be reporting this at the next rijikai, and it seems we have no choice but to discuss this issue..", said a prudent Kitanoumi rijicho.

[Jonosuke 28]

Well Matsunami is justifiably upset after he has been spurned, ignored and scorned by Kitanoumi for months as he has been taken rather lightly by them.

His suggestion of bringing in outside directors was more or less dismissed as Kitanoumi kept intimating they could not afford to have members who were not familliar with how Ozumo operates and know nothing of its structures.

However Kitanoumi has not shown one single proposal or any reform agenda since he was re-elected as chairman in January and he is basically operating business as usual up to now.

Kitanoumi is aware that the Kyokai is under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Education and Science but he feels the organization is such a special one it deserves not to have any politician exert influence on them.

But Kitanoumi should be reminded that Matsunami is no ordinary rank and file politician. He is well known as a firebrand and is never known to back down from any opposition. He threw a glass of water to other members who were loudly criticizing his speech in Diet once and I am sure he won't refrain from showering cold water over the Kyokai if he does not get his way soon.

[Asashosakari 18,784]

However Kitanoumi has not shown one single proposal or any reform agenda since he was re-elected as chairman in January and he is basically operating business as usual up to now.

Isn't that exactly what was supposed to happen in the early part of the year? Whatever one may think of their Re-Occurence Prevention committee, the idea was that they were going to finish up their heya audits (should be done sometime this month, actually) and then the Kyokai was supposed to address the issue with actual reform proposals. And the whole setup was supported by the ministry/government (though I wouldn't be surprised if Matsunami himself wasn't a supporter).

All that could still mean that Kitanoumi is going to try to sit out the issue, of course, but to have a go at him because that's what he's been doing until now when nothing different was expected of him strikes me as pretty disingenious. I guess Matsunami simply wanted to grab the headlines and try to shape the upcoming debate before the committee presents its findings.

But Kitanoumi should be reminded that Matsunami is no ordinary rank and file politician. He is well known as a firebrand and is never known to back down from any opposition. He threw a glass of water to other members who were loudly criticizing his speech in Diet once and I am sure he won't refrain from showering cold water over the Kyokai if he does not get his way soon.

Oh joy, talk about exactly confirming the mental image I've already had of the guy. Small wonder Kitanoumi hasn't been taking him seriously, if that's indeed the case. (Say, is the Japanese education vice-ministry similar to that in other countries - a job where you park politicians that you can't get rid of but don't want anywhere close to the actual levers of power?)

Edited April 15, 2008 by Asashosakari

[Jonosuke 28]

I should also mention that there is a political angle to this as well.

The current political situation in Japan is precarious as the current administration, Jimin-to, Liberal Democrats with a support of Komei-To controls the Upper House while the opposition coalition headed by Minshu-to, Democratic Party have the majority in the Lower House. It means basically nothing gets done and no legislation passes unless the Jimin decides to overrule every bill opposed by Minshu-To. Japan's budget year started in April, they barely passed the budget bill with one gaping hole. They could not pass so-call Special Road Tax bill which is sourced by gasoline tax. So in this April, almost every gas station in Japan, the price of gas went down almost 25 Yen per liter. Sounds good for motorists but the revenues are used by prefecture governments to spend on much needed maintenance on the infrastructure. Sooner or later something will break.

What all this mean is a bad deal for Matsunami and company as they are facing an inevitable election not far away. With Prime Minister Fukuda's approval rating hovering around 30%, they are on their way to a certain defeat in the Upper House election if it is held right now. And if they lose there, they will be out. Matsunami made a public pledge on this Ozumo issue and he sure cannot back down and not show anything for it when he faces the voters. It's his political life that he must get something done. He has to show a tangible result. It's very personal for him.

Obviously with rather heavy connection to the political world. the Kyokai directors including Kitanoumi know very well Jimin politician's predicament so they are basically dragging their feet, hoping for the new administration to take over. If that happens, they believe the new regime will be too busy to be concerned with Ozumo matters initially.

However this isn't one Party issue as Democrats are as much concerned about the Kyokai's handling of Tokitsukaze incident so all they are buying is a bit more time. As most expect one day soon the Kyokai will need to face the music. But the Kyokai head honchos are not giving up their control that easily and quickly, hoping the politicians will see their way somehow.

[Kintamayama 44,349]

Matsunami meets with three members of the Prevention Convention, as Kitanoumi gets annoyed with the photographer:

[Kotoku 0]

It's not the connections to politicians that Matsunami should worry about...

[Jonosuke 28]

Matsunami meets with three members of the Prevention Convention, as Kitanoumi gets annoyed with the photographer:

I know you are making one of those photo captions you do so well but just to elaborate.

I believe this is from when Matsunami went with the committee members to inspect Kitanoumi Beya and to talk to the shisho about the heya operations as far as their recruits were concerned.

Matsunami tagged along 1) this was the last heya inspection and 2) to force a meeting with Kitanoumi to discuss the Kyokai's initiatives.

As reported earlier (I guess by you) that Matsunami was told by Kitanoumi that this was not the time and place to talk about the Kyokai but rather about his heya business. Kitanoumi told him to come back another time at the Kyokai office. Not easily daunted by big gruffy men, Matsunami went back to the Kyokai and demanded more prompt action subsequently.