大相撲中継中止 ファンの落胆に再生で応えよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 8, 2010)
Sumo's fight to regain fans' trust starts now
大相撲中継中止　ファンの落胆に再生で応えよ（7月7日付・読売社説）

Public broadcaster NHK has decided it will not broadcast live coverage of the upcoming Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament after revelations of widespread illegal gambling on professional baseball games by sumo wrestlers and officials, a scandal that has rocked this country's traditional sport.
　野球賭博問題で揺れる大相撲名古屋場所について、ＮＨＫは中継放送をしないことを決めた。

This will be the first time NHK has dropped live broadcasts of sumo tournaments since it began the service on TV in 1953 and on radio in 1928, except for a period during World War II. The decision will certainly disappoint many sumo fans.
　テレビは１９５３年から、ラジオは２８年から続く中継が戦時中を除き、初めて中止になる。がっかりした相撲ファンは多いことだろう。

NHK will air daily wrapups after each day's action has finished. However, this will offer viewers little of the excitement that comes with watching a live broadcast.
　取組終了後にダイジェスト番組を放送するというが、生放送の醍醐(だいご)味とはほど遠い。

Knowing their bouts were being aired live greatly encouraged sumo wrestlers as they put themselves through grueling practice to prepare for each tournament. Wrestlers who had nothing to do with the gambling scandal will undoubtedly be extremely frustrated by NHK's decision.
　日々稽古(けいこ)に汗を流す力士たちにとっても中継は大きな励みだったろう。賭博問題とかかわりのない力士たちは、さぞ悔しい思いをしているに違いない。

NHK President Shigeo Fukuchi said two factors led to the station's decision: The Japan Sumo Association has yet to present concrete steps to reform itself; and more than 60 percent of 12,000 viewers who contacted NHK about the gambling scandal wanted the plug pulled on live broadcasts.
　中止の理由についてＮＨＫの福地茂雄会長は、日本相撲協会の改革の取り組みに「具体的な道筋が見えていない」こと、１万２０００件に上る視聴者からの意見の６割以上が「中継をやめるべきだ」と言っていることを挙げた。

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Viewers split

But many other people felt strongly that the tournament should be broadcast live, and the majority of wrestlers were not involved in the gambling. Given these factors, NHK certainly had the option of broadcasting the tournament live.
　一方で、中継を強く望む声があり、賭博と無縁の力士も多いことを考えれば、中継に踏み切る選択肢もあったはずだ。

NHK nevertheless has made a decision that reflects its position as a public broadcaster, as it cannot ignore viewers' strict opinions and given the fact that the JSA's efforts to reform itself remain tenuous at best.
　それでも中止を決めたのは、相撲協会の改革の姿勢になお疑念が残り、視聴者の厳しい声を無視できない、公共放送としてのやむを得ない判断だったのだろう。

The JSA must be held responsible for allowing such a disturbing situation to happen.
　この事態を招いた責任は、言うまでもなく相撲協会にある。

The association has dismissed ozeki Kotomitsuki and stablemaster Otake (former sekiwake Takatoriki). The Nagoya tournament will start under extraordinary circumstances--six other wrestlers in the top makuuchi division as well as JSA Chairman Musashigawa and several other stablemasters have been suspended.
　相撲協会は、大関琴光喜と大嶽親方（元関脇貴闘力）を解雇処分にした。幕内だけでも、琴光喜以外に６人の力士が出場停止、武蔵川理事長ら多数の親方も謹慎という異常な事態の中で名古屋場所を迎えることになった。

With these punitive measures, the JSA appeared to have made efforts to resolve the problem. When appointing an acting chairman, however, some stablemasters reportedly were opposed to naming Hiroyoshi Murayama, a former Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office chief, to the post. They insisted the acting chairman should have a sumo background.
　相撲協会として一定のけじめをつけた格好だが、理事長代行の人選では、村山弘義・元東京高検検事長の就任に難色を示し、あくまで角界内部からの選出を求める声が一部の親方から上がった。

We are disappointed with the association's inability to shed its self-centered nature in a situation like this.
　この期に及んでも、内向きの論理を捨てきれない体質には、あきれるばかりだ。

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Not the 1st time

The JSA has been battered by a string of scandals in recent years, including the fatal assault of a junior sumo wrestler by fellow wrestlers, illegal drug use, and, most recently, gangsters being broadcast on TV while sitting in prime ringside seats after allegedly receiving tickets from a stablemaster. Each time, the association promised to clean up its act. Unfortunately, it has failed to do so.
　力士暴行死や大麻事件、土俵近くの特別席に座る暴力団関係者が中継に映った問題など、不祥事の度に相撲協会は再発防止を誓ってきたものの、自浄能力は発揮できなかった。

The JSA will set up a reform committee tasked with reviewing the organization. The committee reportedly will consider ways to sever sumo's ties with organized crime syndicates and improve the association's crisis management. We hope the committee will be formed from third-party members and exert strong leadership in overhauling sumo's governing body.
　相撲協会は、組織の見直しを進める改革委員会の設置を決めた。暴力団との決別や危機管理のあり方などを検討するという。改革委は外部メンバーで構成し、強力なリーダーシップを発揮して抜本改革に取り組んでほしい。

The sumo world must quickly start trying to revive itself. Sumo wrestlers will only be able to satisfy sumo fans by competing hard in the ring.
　大相撲再生の第一歩を踏み出すために、改革の推進は待ったなしだ。土俵でもファンが納得する熱戦を繰り広げるしかない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 7, 2010)
（2010年7月7日01時51分 読売新聞）