Another new committee-the Governance

[Kotoviki 16]

In Japan when you rent an apartment, it's not just the first and last rent you pay but you also need to cough up a little bit extra to the owner, an appreciation.

There is no question certain amount of money is paid to the owner or the owner may waive it. It's a business arrangement but all these monies should be properly reported for tax purpose but I doubt they are doing it right now. If the owner waive it, it is a contribution to the heya and it is a revenue in a sense so it must be reported.

Actually these days the "gift appreciation" money (which was equal to one month's rent) is not always collected as it used to be!! In my current house I negotiated not to pay it and I didn't. But it wasn't a "contribution to me" so I doubt that the heya could be accused of getting "contributions" if they didn't pay the gift money on their rentals...

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

I saw some news suggesting the NSK is going to accept the committee's recommendations to rid sumo of gangster influence, and that Musashigawa will step down as rijicho.

[kuroimori 1,634]

Yes, looks like he is gonna step down/resign/retire (pick one!) as Rijicho.

Nikkansports reported (20:13 JST) that Musashigawa riji-cho is finally ready to take the responsibility of the numerous recent scandals and will hand in his resignation tomorrow Thursday, August 5th.

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/ne...804-661911.html

Hmmm, already posted it but maybe it should have been a new thread...? Sorry, mods!

Edited August 4, 2010 by kuroimori

[Asashosakari 20,291]

Side-tracking from the rijicho replacement issue for a bit, where it currently looks like Hanaregoma has the inside track, if they dare to upset the grandstanding Ministry of Etc. guy (funny, every year a new face, but always the same annoyingly useless comments):

While the Governess is still wrestling with the issue of how to keep the ringside tickets out of undesirable hands altogether, the board of directors has decided to institute their own workaround for Aki basho - holders of these special contributor seats will no longer enter the Kokugikan through the main public entrance, but will instead be directed to the South entrance thus far used only by rikishi and Kyokai personnel, which will be specially staffed for this purpose. (Including, I presume, a police investigator or two.) I'm not entirely convinced of the feasibility of this idea yet - how to stop these audience members from using the main gate anyway? - but it's a start.

In addition, said main gate will be equipped with an extra-large "No gang members allowed" sign. If that sounds snarky, it's not my fault this time; that's exactly what the Sports Hochi report says.

[Orion 431]

While the Governess is still wrestling with the issue of how to keep the ringside tickets out of undesirable hands altogether, the board of directors has decided to institute their own workaround for Aki basho - holders of these special contributor seats will no longer enter the Kokugikan through the main public entrance, but will instead be directed to the South entrance thus far used only by rikishi and Kyokai personnel

also by people with journalist IDs issued by the Kyokai; and, of course, by ordinary customers who are taking advantage of the opportunity to get back into the Kokugikan after exiting once (of course they can be identified by the invisible ink on the back of their hands).

FWIW, Orion

[Asashosakari 20,291]

At their next meeting to be held on August 12, the committee is planning to invite rikishi representatives to hear their opinion and suggestions to the Kyokai.

The invitations are out: it's Kaio, Wakanosato, Tochinonada, Tosanoumi and Hokutoriki, one veteran from each ichimon. In turn, the five observing oyakata will not be present this time.

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Scandal hit sumo association to hire new PR spokesperson from general public

The scandal-tainted Japan Sumo Association (JSA) will recruit a new spokesperson from the general public in a bid to promote a more open organizational structure.

An outside panel on establishing governance in the JSA proposed that the association recruit a publicity specialist as an assistant manager for its public relations department during a meeting held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan stadium on Aug. 16. The panel was set up to promote fundamental reform of the organization.

If the proposal is approved during an extraordinary board meeting scheduled for Aug. 20, the new press officer will be appointed by the end of September...

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/sports/news...0na006000c.html

[Asashosakari 20,291]

Looks like it was never mentioned on the forum: Back on Monday the Kyokai's leadership officially presented the "mob exclusion declaration" that had been worked out in conjunction with the Governance committee. In addition to all the usual suspects Hakuho and the four ozeki were also present as Hanaregoma-rijicho read out the declaration. No surprises as to its contents - the Kyokai officially affirmed its ban on any mob contacts whatsoever, including ticket sales, socializing (dinners, sports outings such as golf, etc.), heya administration, and so on, and promised penalties (up to firings) for anyone caught flauting these rules.

The whole thing was then also the topic of Tuesday's sekitori meeting, where each rikishi was given a copy of the declaration and Kaio read it out loud as a rikishi representative. Hanaregoma was present to answer questions, such as what to do if a rikishi finds out that somebody from a random photo opportunity was a mob guy (Answer: Don't restrict your fan service out of fear - if it happens, the relevant authorities will ascertain that there was indeed no contact beyond that photograph and that'll be it), or what to do if a rikishi's parent happens to be mob-connected. (Nikkan didn't provide the answer given to that question.)

Incidentally, the committee has now set its sights on improving the Kyokai sumo school education and associated topics. Committee member Watanabe (owner of a restaurant chain) attended keiko at Takanohana-beya last week and had a lengthy chat with the shisho about how to improve rikishis' post-sumo job opportunities, one of the things Takanohana had placed on his agenda following his election to the board earlier this year. Members of the committee will also attend keiko at Kasugano-beya later this week.

[Kintamayama 47,366]

Scandal hit sumo association to hire new PR spokesperson from general public

The scandal-tainted Japan Sumo Association (JSA) will recruit a new spokesperson from the general public in a bid to promote a more open organizational structure.

An outside panel on establishing governance in the JSA proposed that the association recruit a publicity specialist as an assistant manager for its public relations department during a meeting held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan stadium on Aug. 16. The panel was set up to promote fundamental reform of the organization.

If the proposal is approved during an extraordinary board meeting scheduled for Aug. 20, the new press officer will be appointed by the end of September...

They have hired Mr. Hirooka, who is Baseball's Hideki Matsui's publicist as well , for a period of four months.

[Kintamayama 47,366]

They have hired Mr. Hirooka, who is Baseball's Hideki Matsui's publicist as well , for a period of four months.

This be him- shall we pick it up?:

Edited October 18, 2010 by Kintamayama

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

A few more details...

The Japan Sumo Association has hired the publicist of the Los Angeles Angels

[ilovesumo 12]

Any sample of his former work so far?

I wonder what comes next. More visits in elderly people's homes won't help much I fear, cause everybody will think of it as "just PR".

When it comes to Asa, - I didn't like him for the time I only knew him from TV and bad press, it helped a lot to see his emotional side.

Danpatsu-tears etc. paint a better picture of Sumo, helping ex-Rikishi to find jobs will help as well.

We'll see...

[Kintamayama 47,366]

Members:

Miki Watanabe (Watami, a restaurant chain) - chairman

Miki Watanabe will be running for Governor of Tokyo. Consequently, he will be resigning from the Governance committee. "I heard something about it but I don't know when exactly this will occur." said Janaregoma rijicho, who is Spanish for today only.

Edited February 15, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Peterao 3]

Some of the proposals from the Governance Committee are being presented at today's Riji meeting. It is thought that the suggestions include "Make the majority of people in the Rijikai outsiders" and "Reduce the number of heya and rethink the business plan" It is also thought that the oyakata are slipping into self-preservation mode at the thought of these suggestions.

[Kintamayama 47,366]

Some of the proposals from the Governance Committee are being presented at today's Riji meeting. It is thought that the suggestions include "Make the majority of people in the Rijikai outsiders" and "Reduce the number of heya and rethink the business plan" It is also thought that the oyakata are slipping into self-preservation mode at the thought of these suggestions.

Some more suggestions-

1. Banning of cash transactions in buying/selling of kabu.

2. Cutting down the number of heyas.

3. Having at least half of the rijikai members from the outside, but the rijicho should preferably be someone with sumo experience, one member suggesting the rijicho should be "charismatic"..

4. Age limit for Makushita and under, whatever that means.

Edited February 17, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Asashosakari 20,291]

1. Banning of cash transactions in buying/selling of kabu.

No idea how that's supposed to be enforced, short of the the drastic idea of the Kyokai buying back all kabu and awarding them directly as was suggested very early on. And they probably couldn't even go with the nod to tradition that active oyakata should be able to suggest their successor's name, since those would-be successors would probably end up paying for that if not the kabu itself... Might as well scrap the kabu system altogether and make the oyakata regular employees instead of shareholders.

Edit: Apparently the report also included "heya maintenance" as one of the suggested core functions of the Kyokai, which I take to mean (more) centralized administration instead of the current model where most of the administrative responsibilities are in the hands of each shisho.

Edit again: Also criticized in the report - the overlap between shishos and the administrative levels of the Kyokai (which are supposedly supervising the first group, after all).

Edited February 17, 2011 by Asashosakari

[Asashosakari 20,291]

4. Age limit for Makushita and under, whatever that means.

Mentioned in the same breath - re-employment strategies for those who didn't make it within the age limits, as well as "player contracts" similar to other professional sports for sekitori. Umm, okay...

Rikishi in makushita and under are suggested to be classified as "trainees" (研修生 kenshusei) in the future, with kids under the current age/education minimum (~15 years, middle school completed) being allowed to sign up for such trainee status. Currently the official term for toriteki is apparently "developmental (Kyokai) members" (養成員 yosei-in).

Edited February 17, 2011 by Asashosakari

[alpineviolet 0]

4. Age limit for Makushita and under, whatever that means.

Mentioned in the same breath - re-employment strategies for those who didn't make it within the age limits, as well as "player contracts" similar to other professional sports for sekitori. Umm, okay...

I'm not sure I understand. Is this an upper as well as lower age limit? What about Juryo who fall down to Makushita and who are above the age limit?

(I can't help it; I'm thinking about Kaonishiki right now, whose face I would dearly miss seeing after every one of Takamisakari's matches, win or lose. ;-) )

Are they talking player contracts similar to baseball contracts, where the team (or in this case, heya) buys the player's contract and trades people around a lot? Or more like a code of conduct thingie for them to agree to? Sorry if my questions seem basic, I never was into sports before sumo, so I don't know much about them.

[Kotoviki 16]

4. Age limit for Makushita and under, whatever that means.

Mentioned in the same breath - re-employment strategies for those who didn't make it within the age limits, as well as "player contracts" similar to other professional sports for sekitori. Umm, okay...

I'm not sure I understand. Is this an upper as well as lower age limit? What about Juryo who fall down to Makushita and who are above the age limit?

(I can't help it; I'm thinking about Kaonishiki right now, whose face I would dearly miss seeing after every one of Takamisakari's matches, win or lose. ;-) )

Are they talking player contracts similar to baseball contracts, where the team (or in this case, heya) buys the player's contract and trades people around a lot? Or more like a code of conduct thingie for them to agree to? Sorry if my questions seem basic, I never was into sports before sumo, so I don't know much about them.

Like you I don't understand this at all!!! (and I too want to see Kaonishiki on the dohyo!!)

I hope they don't screw this up too much and make it too strange!!!

[ilovesumo 12]

1. Banning of cash transactions in buying/selling of kabu.

No idea how that's supposed to be enforced, short of the the drastic idea of the Kyokai buying back all kabu and awarding them directly as was suggested very early on. And they probably couldn't even go with the nod to tradition that active oyakata should be able to suggest their successor's name, since those would-be successors would probably end up paying for that if not the kabu itself... Might as well scrap the kabu system altogether and make the oyakata regular employees instead of shareholders.

Edit: Apparently the report also included "heya maintenance" as one of the suggested core functions of the Kyokai, which I take to mean (more) centralized administration instead of the current model where most of the administrative responsibilities are in the hands of each shisho.

Edit again: Also criticized in the report - the overlap between shishos and the administrative levels of the Kyokai (which are supposedly supervising the first group, after all).

Good idea about the Kabu. I want an education for Oyakata-to be. They must be educated to be able to educate kids - not buying a license - this is BS.

I remember one scientist wrote that the Kyoukai actually doesn't rule into the Heya at all...all those kouenkai people do. Even weddings need their approval...now that's outdated.

[Asashosakari 20,291]

I'm not sure I understand. Is this an upper as well as lower age limit? What about Juryo who fall down to Makushita and who are above the age limit?

For lower age limits see the other part of that post; the committee is suggesting to "re-anchor" Ozumo in the existing amasumo foundations, similar to how e.g. soccer clubs are running their own youth academies. The ideas on upper limits are completely vague right now - one article mentioned the system that existed after 1957, but purely for illustration since there's nothing concrete at the moment.

(I can't help it; I'm thinking about Kaonishiki right now, whose face I would dearly miss seeing after every one of Takamisakari's matches, win or lose. (Shaking head...) )

I would think that age limits would mainly apply below makushita, not in makushita itself...as long as the system of rikishi promotion/demotion remains largely unchanged I don't see how they can have much of an age limit in the division right below juryo, which after all is sort of an "overflow" area for the sekitori ranks. Maybe something benign like two consecutive years below juryo after age 30...I dunno. Anything more restrictive and you risk cutting short careers that might still turn out to have a sekitori future.

Of course, if Ozumo really starts taking in rikishi much younger than 15 and actually puts them into basho, the banzuke will start looking a lot different in the future, so it's hard to even speculate what sensible (or not so sensible) age limits they might be coming up with. I'm not a huge fan of the idea, but it might be inevitable if the stables really end up administered at the central level and the "shouldn't this-or-that rikishi seek a different path than ozumo?" question is longer entrusted to the individual oyakata...

Are they talking player contracts similar to baseball contracts, where the team (or in this case, heya) buys the player's contract and trades people around a lot? Or more like a code of conduct thingie for them to agree to? Sorry if my questions seem basic, I never was into sports before sumo, so I don't know much about them.

FWIW, today's articles include somewhat vague comments about "clarifying the rikishis' terms of employment". That could mean code of conduct issues, but perhaps it's just a matter of characterizing rikishi as employees in a more modern and more appropriate sense than the often arcane Kyokai rules stipulate. (The big issue here is probably transparency.)

As for whether rikishi will be able to change heyas afterwards, that's something I've been wondering today as well. Part of the suggested changes is apparently to finance the stables completely through the Kyokai, which would make the oyakata in charge of them pure coaches, no longer businessmen. In that sense, stables would no longer be in financial competition with each other, just at the athletic level - and adding in the notion of centralized administration, I would guess that rikishi would have to be free to change from one heya to another under that system if they no longer get along with their chosen/assigned (?) coach. I'm also wondering if that might mean that some stables will specialize in certain types of rikishi, e.g. mainly youth-oriented places that then transfer their successful rikishi to different stables more geared towards sekitori-level competition. But with those bits of speculation I'm really getting ahead of the process...

[Asashosakari 20,291]

I remember one scientist wrote that the Kyoukai actually doesn't rule into the Heya at all...all those kouenkai people do. Even weddings need their approval...now that's outdated.

I think that's exactly the type of financial dependency on heya supporters (whether legit or shady) that the governance committee wants to see stamped out. I find it hard to argue against that, to be honest - but I wonder if the Kyokai can afford to take over all those expenses currently covered by direct supporters of individual stables. The 0% tax rate would help, I guess.

[alpineviolet 0]

The ideas on upper limits are completely vague right now - one article mentioned the system that existed after 1957, but purely for illustration since there's nothing concrete at the moment.

I remember liking that idea when you mentioned it before. If there is going to be an age limit, I think that might be the best way. Thanks so much for your explanations/thoughts. I'm pretty impatient for official decisions right now, but trying my best to settle in for a long wait.

[ilovesumo 12]

I remember one scientist wrote that the Kyoukai actually doesn't rule into the Heya at all...all those kouenkai people do. Even weddings need their approval...now that's outdated.

I think that's exactly the type of financial dependency on heya supporters (whether legit or shady) that the governance committee wants to see stamped out. I find it hard to argue against that, to be honest - but I wonder if the Kyokai can afford to take over all those expenses currently covered by direct supporters of individual stables. The 0% tax rate would help, I guess.

Yes. Same here. The shadow has to go.

But yes, how to finance the whole deal... As simple as it is, people won't buy Sumo anymore - they aren't economical efficient and I doubt the Kyoukai could go on without the shadow-supporters - if the supporters want (or need) to keep staying in the shadow, what would the Kyoukai or the Heya do?

[Peterao 3]

4. Age limit for Makushita and under, whatever that means.

Mentioned in the same breath - re-employment strategies for those who didn't make it within the age limits, as well as "player contracts" similar to other professional sports for sekitori. Umm, okay...

I'm not sure I understand. Is this an upper as well as lower age limit? What about Juryo who fall down to Makushita and who are above the age limit?

(I can't help it; I'm thinking about Kaonishiki right now, whose face I would dearly miss seeing after every one of Takamisakari's matches, win or lose. (Shaking head...) )

Are they talking player contracts similar to baseball contracts, where the team (or in this case, heya) buys the player's contract and trades people around a lot? Or more like a code of conduct thingie for them to agree to? Sorry if my questions seem basic, I never was into sports before sumo, so I don't know much about them.

Like you I don't understand this at all!!! (and I too want to see Kaonishiki on the dohyo!!)

I hope they don't screw this up too much and make it too strange!!!

Probably none of these "suggestions" will ended up becoming the "law" as is. The sumo people would have to use these as a base point and change them into something that makes sense.