[sumo] [Spoiler] Rikishi Talk Day 3 Aki Basho 2007 (plus Kyokai criticism rearing , , , )

[Joe Petrow]

Wrong Joe, but I just want to say that this is indicative of a larger
problem in Japan, how archaic and toothless the whole "Press Club"
system is.  Basically, only people who are "preapproved" get access to
various reporting facilities, which means that reporters just call the
source directly to get their information, often never having to leave
their own desk to do any actual journalism.  A comfy arrangement for
both sides...but they lose that access if they ever get out of line
and attempt to actually report the news objectively.  This is why
you'll find that all criticism of the govermnent in the main media
channels is so muted and sterile, and why political humor in this
country is nonexistant.

This is also why most "real reporting" in Japan is done by the weekly
magazines outside of the Press Club system such as Bunshun, though
they're generally not taken as seriously because they also pack in
things such as wild gossip and erotic photos.  My opinion is that they
have to do that to maintain an air of "incredibility" in order to keep
the government off their back.  A wink and a nod, a song and dance,
much like Scott says the Kyokai and Asashoryu are doing right now.

No surprise to see the Kyokai playing hardball here.  There's another
ancient institution to protect.

  - Peterao

On 9/12/07, Scott Kahn <smk1 at columbia.edu> wrote:
> Joe,
>
> Thank you for this continuing in-basho contribution.  Our personal
> opinions on the Asashoryu issue aside, this is indeed a fascinating turn
> of events.
> >
> >To be able to work as a reporter at the Kokugikan and
> >other venues staging Ozumo, the reporter needs to be a
> >member of the Ozumo Press Club at each hon-basho and
> >requires a Kyokai issued press pass through the club.
> >
> >In addition the Sumo Press Clubs provide an honorary
> >membership to those reporters who have contributed to
> >ozumo reporting and writing for many years the same
> >press privileges and arrange the press pass for them.
> >
> >An honorary member of the Tokyo Sumo Press Club,
> >Kunihiro Sugiyama, former and long time NHK sumo
> >announcer, has been working as a sumo commmenter and
> >writer was asked by the Kyokai to return his honorary
> >press card on September 10.
> >
> >"As a honorary press club member, he should be in a
> >position to offer a correction or should be asking for
> >a retraction whenever TV hosts or other guests made
> >invalid comments on the shows but he simply nodded
> >along and was even agreeing with them in some cases.
> >Considering his position, he should display more
> >responsibility," Kitaoumi oyakata, chairman of the
> >Kyokai, stated requesting the return of the press
> >privileges from Sugiyama. "If he wants to work as a
> >commentator, then fine, he has no need for our press
> >card. I don't want anyone to use it for one purpose
> >and then come back conveniently to work as another."
> >
> >Sugiyama was asked by a female employee of the Kyokai
> >office to hand back the card and he did not want to
> >get her in troubles with the chairman and other
> >executives, Sugiyama agreed to hand back the press
> >card but the Tokyo Sumo Press Club filed a letter of
> >protest with the Kyokai yesterday.
> >
> >Kunihiro Sugiyama
> >----------------------
> >"I accepted to appear on TV shows because I wanted the
> >Kyokai to face the whole Asashoryu issue squarely and
> >conduct themselves decisively. I have never ever made
> >any derogatory comment towards the Kyokai. I feel
> >saddened to see myself losing the press card for
> >something as innocuous as having nodded to someone
> >else's comment. I have been reporting on Ozumo all my
> >life as one who loves sumo earnestly so this measure
> >is not only disappointing but also regrettable."
> >
> >Tomozuna Oyakata
> >----------------------
> >(One of the oyakata known to be critical of Kyokai's
> >handling of Asashoryu)
> >"I feel Mr. Sugiyama has been making reasonable and
> >valid points. This is simply a really terrible
> >response by the Kyokai's internal clique."
> >
> >Masayuki Tamaki, sports writer
> >------------------------------------
> >"Sports reporting has a risk and tendency to become
> >the organizer's mouthpiece or a voice of their PR
> >department. So actually we have more reason to view
> >them with more critical eye. Organizations like the
> >Kyokai who would shut the door from such criticism
> >will eventually perish for certain. More than ever I
> >feel apprehensive about the Kyokai's future. We
> >journalists should never let this Kyokai's measure
> >stand."
> >
> >Yasuhiko Oishi, Aoyama Gakuin University Proferssor
> >(Media Ethics)
> >-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >"As a publicly run organization, the Kyokai should be
> >in a position to listen to and accept as many opinion
> >expressed so from that point they should be criticized
> >for this measure. But equally I believe the media who
> >have seized on this Asshoryu incident are viewing the
> >sports simply as a type of entertainment or leisure
> >item and got themselve overheated. There is definitely
> >a need for media to re-examine and review their
> >reporting methods so we can elevate the culture and
> >social benefits of sports inlcuding sumo."
> >
> >
> >.....Jonosuke
> >  <  Heart  Technique  Physique      &#24515;&#12288;&#25216;&#12288;&#20307;&#12288;>
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