放駒新理事長 改革断行し開かれた相撲界に

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 15, 2010)
New sumo chief must clean house
放駒新理事長　改革断行し開かれた相撲界に（8月14日付・読売社説）

The installation of a new chairman of the Japan Sumo Association is a chance to renew the professional sumo world. It is a chance the JSA must seize.
　理事長の交代を大相撲再生の契機としなければならない。

Musashigawa, formerly yokozuna Mienoumi, resigned the JSA chairmanship Thursday, and Hanaregoma, formerly ozeki Kaiketsu, was elected to become the 11th chairman of the sport's governing body.
　日本相撲協会の武蔵川理事長（元横綱三重ノ海）が辞任し、その後任の第１１代理事長に放駒(はなれごま)親方（元大関魁傑）が選出された。

As public trust in the sumo world is eroding over the illegal baseball gambling scandal, the new chairman needs to exercise strong leadership to carry out drastic reform of the association.
　野球賭博問題で角界への信頼が失墜する中、新理事長には相撲協会の抜本改革を断行する強いリーダーシップが求められる。

Scandals and resignations

Musashigawa took the chairman's post two years ago, succeeding Kitanoumi, who had resigned to take responsibility over a drug scandal. Although Musashigawa appeared to be resolved to reform the sumo world, he failed to actually do so.
　武蔵川理事長は２年前、大麻問題の責任をとって退任した北の湖理事長（当時）の後を継いだ。改革に意欲をみせたものの、角界を立て直すには至らなかった。

Following the revelation that sumo wrestlers of his stable were involved in baseball gambling, Musashigawa was suspended from duty during the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament last month. He thus was unable to exercise his leadership in the operation of the event.
　名古屋場所では、自らの部屋の力士が野球賭博にかかわっていたため謹慎処分を受け、場所運営で指導力を発揮できなかった。

He cited poor health as his reason for stepping down, but he apparently resigned to take responsibility over the scandal.
　体調不良を辞任の理由に挙げているが、事実上の引責辞任といえるだろう。

The Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry, which oversees the JSA, had indicated it was desirable for the association to have someone from outside the sumo world, rather than a former sumo wrestler, take up the chairman's post.
　新理事長について、相撲協会を監督する文部科学省は、力士出身者ではなく、外部の人材が望ましいとの意向を示していた。

This stance likely reflected the reality that stablemasters, deeply embedded in a closed organizational culture, failed to correct its flaws on their own despite a series of scandals involving the sumo world.
　度重なる不祥事で、閉鎖体質に染まった親方たちが自浄能力を発揮できなかった実態を踏まえての判断だったのだろう。

But the JSA board again picked an insider for the chairman's post. This can be interpreted as a sign that board members believe only former wrestlers, who are familiar with the inner workings of the sumo world, can serve in the association's top post.
　だが、理事会は“身内”の理事長を選んだ。協会トップの理事長は、角界の内情を知る力士出身者にしか務まらないという理事会の意思の表れといえる。

Hanaregoma won popularity as a wrestler for his sincere attitude in the ring. As a stablemaster, he has nurtured yokozuna Onokuni and others and is known to be scrupulous. The JSA thus pinned its hopes on his clean image as it looked for someone to steer the body toward revival.
　放駒新理事長は現役時代、真摯(しんし)な土俵態度で人気があった。親方としては、横綱大乃国らを育て、実直な人柄でも知られる。相撲協会は、そのクリーンなイメージに再生の舵(かじ)取りを託したわけだ。

Hanaregoma said at an inauguration press conference, "I'll make my utmost effort now that I've accepted the post." He also has indicated that he will consider increasing the number of JSA executives from outside the sumo world to tackle the mountain of problems it faces.
　放駒新理事長は、「引き受けた以上は最大の努力を払いたい」と語った。山積する課題に対処するために、外部役員の増員を検討する考えも示した。

We hope the JSA will be transformed into an open organization by discarding its inward-looking mentality--of which it is sarcastically said that common sense in the sumo world is not common sense for the general public--and that it will proactively incorporate the views of outside people.
　「角界の常識は世間の非常識」と言われる内向きの論理を排除し、外部の意見を積極的に取り入れ、開かれた相撲協会へと変えていってもらいたい。

Toss gangs out of ring

The JSA must first sever ties with gang organizations, which were revealed in a series of scandals, including the illegal betting on professional baseball games. The first step to restore public trust must be to expeditiously and thoroughly implement antigang measures.
　最優先で取り組まねばならないのは、野球賭博問題などで浮き彫りになった暴力団との関係を断ち切ることだ。暴力団排除対策を速やかに実施し、徹底することが、信頼回復の第一歩となる。

It is also essential to address medium- to long-term issues such as the JSA's organizational reform.
　相撲協会の組織改革など、中長期的な課題も避けて通れまい。

The Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament starts on Sept. 12. Within less than a month, the new JSA chairman must take the lead in presenting a road map for reform with which sumo fans would be satisfied.
　秋場所の初日は９月１２日だ。新理事長が先頭に立ち、あと１か月足らずの間に、ファンが納得する改革の道筋を示す必要がある。

The sumo world will otherwise again find itself at the center of an imbroglio such as was seen in the Nagoya meet, which was rocked by such developments as NHK's decision not to broadcast the event live.
　そうでなければ、ＮＨＫの中継中止などで揺れた名古屋場所の騒動を繰り返すことになる。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 14, 2010)
（2010年8月14日01時11分 読売新聞）