Education etc.. Ministry to investigate the NSK

[Kintamayama]

Cabinet minister Matsunami from the Education, Culture, Science , Sports , Education, Culture and Technology (did I forget something?) Ministry has announced that he intends to push for an inquiry of the way the Kyokai is run by the end of the year. He will be chiefly concentrating on the Kyokai's financial running, but the inquiry will include other management areas as well. As the NSK is dependent upon this ministry for a lot of money, this could affect the Kyokai in more than one way. "The Kyokai has a lot of reserve money, and as a corporation, they have too much money, hence the need for investigation", he explained. They will investigate the way the money is spent , Sumo being the only sports under the ministry's jurisdiction that will undergo such an investigation. Asked about the NSK's promise to appoint an outside riji, he said, " If this riji won't be part of the Kyokai's actual decision making, it will have no meaning. I expect this to happen within this year. If it doesn't, my voice will be heard loud and clear demanding that they deliver!!".

[Asashosakari]

Now playing left field: Matsunami Kenshiro.

As usual when his name is part of some news, I don't understand what the hell he's on about. Oh well.

[_the_mind_]

he wants to investigate them because they have too much money? that seems kind of strange. unless the implied meaning is that they are doing shady shit to have come up with so much money....still though

Edited June 14, 2008 by _the_mind_

[Sashohitowa]

"Investigation"... Are we talking about "audit" here? And, if yes, will it be performed by auditors of the Ministry or an external company will be hired?

[Asashosakari]

"Investigation"... Are we talking about "audit" here?

I think so, which is part of what's confusing me - with the Kyokai under the ministry's jurisdiction, and apparently having to have its budget approved every year, you'd think they're already being audited regularly. (Not to mention that it should only take one call to get a look at the Kyokai's books.) Somehow this and other Matsunami stuff comes across to me as a Yes, Minister type of deal with various aides and committee members intentionally keeping him out of the loop, and the only way he can remind everybody that he's still the guy nominally in charge is to make crazy announcements to the press.

At any rate, Mainichi's treatment of the whole thing has more information, but the auto-translations aren't terribly helpful this time...best as I can tell, Matsunami thinks that as a non-profit the Kyokai shouldn't be running up reserves the way they do, and he's not content with the Kyokai's explanations for why they're running up these reserves (scheduled future repairs to the Kokugikan and retirement payments to oyakatas).

Edited June 15, 2008 by Asashosakari

[Kintamayama]

best as I can tell, Matsunami thinks that as a non-profit the Kyokai shouldn't be running up reserves the way they do, and he's not content with the Kyokai's explanations for why they're running up these reserves (scheduled future repairs to the Kokugikan and retirement payments to oyakatas).

Exactly. He wonders why they need more money annually, if they're sitting on so much "reserve money" already.

Edited June 15, 2008 by Kintamayama

[ilovesumo]

Never thought the Kyokai could be a non-profit. ;-) They make profit after all.

[Nanami]

Never thought the Kyokai could be a non-profit. ;-) They make profit after all.

The non-profit status of an organization is usually granted because of its charitable mission/main purpose - meaning it's main purpose is not to make a profit, but to serve some greater good. The fact that a non-profit makes a profit is ok (at least in the US), because many do. However, red flags can be raised when a non-profit begins to have "excessive" reserves, high salaried executives, make political statements (in the US), etc... IMO there is usually no problem with any of these things unless there is something going on in the political climate that causes people to look at an organization for some reason..

[Kintamayama]

More gossip!! The Education etc.. Ministry says it wants to keep the "reserve money" that beneficiaries receive at around the 30% rate. The NSK is currently holding about 67%, thus the mumblings. In the meantime, Matsutani uji has denied he said that only Sumo would be specifically and specially investigated. "There is no intention of specially targeting the NSK for investigation", he denied.

[Jonosuke]

I think all Ozumo has to do is just wait around as Japan's Liberal Democrats would not be able to stay on too long. I have a feeling all PM Fukuda desperately is doing is to hang on until G8 Summit as the host nation's chair but after the summer he would not be able to stay on too long. He has already suffered a vote of non-confidence in the Upper Chamber where the opposition holds the majority and he was only saved by the Lower Chamber vote they had to call to ensure his legitimacy.

The government unleashed so much messes on pension programs and health insurance for seniors which they have never recovered and Fukuda's popularity is hovering around 20%, he has no chance to be re-elected.

As much as Democrats and the current opposition parties are no friends to Ozumo, at least their priority is somewhere else initially so it will take them a bit more to catch up to the Kyokai issues.

[ilovesumo]

Who is next then?

Somebody a bit more... internationally orientated?

[ilovesumo]

Whatever happened to the investigation plans, the Kyokai is spending the "too much" of money, offering

500万円 (46.503 $) to the japanese red cross for the earth quake victims in Iwate.

Edited June 20, 2008 by ilovesumo

[Jonosuke]

Actually this is one of those best things they can do. The quake has devastated the areasi n Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures. They will need some time to rebuild as the people have lost their homes and work places. The impact can be far reaching as when your workplace building is deemed to be in danger, you can no longer work and you lose your job. Aside from living in an emergency shelter, the life can become hard very quickly.

If I recall the Kyokai planned a summer jyungyo at two places in Iwate ( both promoted by former Tochinohana who is from Iwate) so I am not even sure if they can go ahead with the Jyungyo but I am sure Kasugano Beya people will be visiting the area to cook some chanko for them one of these days.