[sumo] Yokozuna Deliberation Committee Members

[Joe Kuroda <joe_kuroda@yahoo.com>]

OK, let's start with a bit of history.

In the 1950 January Basho Yokozunas Azumafuji,
Haguroyama and Terukuni all withdrew from the basho
and there were rather heated discussions took place on
their responsibility as Yokozuna as well as the
demotion of Yokozuna. 

Perhaps trying to have the discussion under control,
the Kyokai decided to set up a committee made up of
independent individuals from academia, media,
corporate and cultural fields. Their mandate was to
discuss any issues relating to Yokozuna's on and off
dohyo conduct as well as their promotion, retirement
and make certain recommendation when a yokozuna goes
on a lengthy absence. 

The Yokozuna Shingi Iiinkai (Yokozuna Deliberation
Committee) is convened after each Basho Banzuke
release and after the completion of each basho. The
committee can have up to 15 members. Screen writer
Makiko Uchidate became the first female member, when
she was appointed in Septembe 2000. 

The current members are as listed by Kintamayama in
his previous post. 

Yoshio Ishibashi is the chancellor of Kyoritsu Gakuen,
private girls schools from kindergarten to university.

Katsuji Ebisawa is NHK's Chairman who is currently
under pressure to resign due to some internal scandals
(certain program managers are being investigated for
improperly using corporate funds).

Tsuneo Watanabe is the chairman of Yomiuri Group which
includes Tokyo Giants Baseball Team (Hideki Matsui's
old team), Nihon TV Network, the Yomiuri Shimbun
newspaper and its publshing house which puts out Ozumo
magazine.

Yasushi Mieno was the former Governor of Bank of
Japan. 

Hirohiko Oshima is the CEO of Nagoya based Chunichi
Shimbun (they also publishes regional papers like the
Tokyo Shimbun in Tokyo).

Takuhito Tsuruta is the former chairman of the Nihon
Keizai Shimbun, currently their advisor.

Touru Funamura is a well know composer of Japanese
Enka style music. Some of more well known songs are
"Osho" (song about Shogi, Japanese chess, master) and
"Kyodaibune" (song about two brothers taking over
their father's fishing boat). His songs are said to
sing the Japanese heart. Ichiro Toba sings this song
often in NHK's Kohaku Utagassen Song Festival held on
December 31. A well known Enka singe Saburo Kitajima
sings many of his songs.

Yoji Yamada is a well know film director. He directed
a series of immensely popular films called "Otoko wa
Tsuraiyo" ("Tough to be a Man") until its lead actor
Kiyoshi Atsumi's death and a recent Academy Award
nominated film "Tasogare Seibei" ("Twilight Samurai").

Tanosuke Sawamura is a kabuki actor and sumo lover. He
was granted a title of "Ningen Kokuho" ("Human
National Treasure") by the Government of Japan.

Makiko Uchidate is a screen writer with deep interest
in sumo. Among her works are "Chiyonofuji Story",
"Hirari", NHK's TV morning drama broadcast in 1992 and
NHK's Taiga Drama series "Mouri Motonari". She is
currently taking graduate courses at the University of
Tohoku in Sendai studying religion and sumo history. 

------
The member missing from the latest meeting held, there
was only one, Tanosuke Sawamura, kabuiki actor.

And the question about the newspapers. The Yomiuri
Shimbun is one of five major national dailies in Japan
- others being the Asahi Shimbun, Sankei Shimbun,
Mainichi Shimbun and Nihon Keizai Shimbun. 

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun is the equivalent to the Wall
Street Journal or the Finaincial Times in England. Its
influence in Japanese economy and corporate world is
enormous. 

The Yomiuri Shimbun is the largest paid circulated
newspapers in the world. The Chunichi Shimbun is a
regional paper based in Nagoya and it has its
influence mainly in the region surrounding Aichi
Prefecture. It has a sports daily which is great if
you follow Chunich Dragons baseball team like Ichiro
does.

+++++
I just read a story on Nikkan Sports about Tsuneo
Watanabe, 78, YDC's 9th Chairman, will be resigning
after the Hatsu Basho next January. He explained his
term (each term is 2 years and up to five terms) with
the YDC will be expiring after the Hatsu Basho. Former
Bank of Japan Governor Mieno, 80, will be also
retiring from the post at the same time..

"That's right. After all I've set it myself," Wanatabe
said referring to the YDC term of 10 years. He
indicated he would like to have his "farewell" job to
be promoting a new Yokozuna. "I guess Kaiou just has
to win one for me at the Hatsu Basho," Watanabe added.



=====
.....Jonosuke 
  <  Heart  Technique  Physique      &#24515;&#12288;&#25216;&#12288;&#20307;&#12288;>

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[EndPost by Joe Kuroda <joe_kuroda@yahoo.com>]