Photo/Illutration Seiko Hashimoto, the new president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee, is pictured on Feb. 18 in Tokyo. (Pool Photo via AP)

Olympic medalist Seiko Hashimoto faces tough challenges as the new chief of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee, starting with the strong pressure to heal the damage caused by her predecessor.

The process of selecting the replacement of Yoshiro Mori, who resigned as president of the committee amid an uproar over his sexist remarks, drew much international attention. But the procedure of picking the new public face of the Tokyo Olympics deserved criticism.

The chairman was the only member of the selection committee identified, and its three meetings were all held behind closed doors.

Mori’s remarks not only hurt the dignity of women, but they also flatly denied the value and importance of building a consensus at meetings by hearing varying views and opinions in candid discussions.

The Olympic organizing committee should have used the selection of its new leader to show the public its commitment to break away from this culture. But the committee missed out on the opportunity by adopting an approach that was far from transparent.

We understand the urgency of picking Mori’s replacement with the Olympics just several months away. Still, the committee’s selection process did little to win the understanding and support of the people or remove the public distrust caused by Mori’s misogynist remarks. 

The leaders of many sports organizations are selected in a rather opaque process. Critics have long pointed out that this is a key factor behind an endless stream of scandals that have rocked the Japanese sports community over the years.

Despite growing calls for a radical change in the prevailing mindset in the nation’s sports community, the organizing committee showed that it is firmly wedded to an outdated way of thinking and doing things. That is sad to see.

The selection panel cited five key qualities required for the new head of the organizing committee, including a profound knowledge of the Olympics and Paralympics as well as sports in general, and the ability to help realize such Olympic values as gender equality and diversity.

Hashimoto’s performance will obviously determine if she measures up to the criteria.

She won an Olympic bronze medal in speed skating and had served as state minister in charge of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games since September 2019.

While she is undoubtedly well-informed about preparations for the Summer Games, Hashimoto has yet to be tested on her ability to coordinate with the International Olympic Committee, official sponsors and many other stakeholders in making a wide range of decisions while managing and leading a huge organization.

Hashimoto has faced allegations of sexual and power harassment. She must brace herself for a critical public scrutiny of her behavior.

Another big challenge for her is ensuring political neutrality, one of the basic principles of the Olympic movement.

Hashimoto has respected Mori as her political mentor. At a Feb. 18 news conference after being named the new organizing committee president, she said she will continue serving as an Upper House member and equivocated when asked if she will leave the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Few doubt that Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga wants to use the Olympics to lift the popularity of his administration. The prime minister’s office appeared to be pulling some strings behind the scenes during the selection process.

Unless she acts with maximum care, Hashimoto could end up causing a serious wound on the reputation of the Olympics.

With many people voicing skepticism about the viability of holding the sports extravaganza amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, Hashimoto will have to tackle a long list of sticky issues.

The organizing committee cannot claim that it has been making integrated and coherent efforts to deal with these issues.

The committee needs to do a better job of disclosing information and offering meticulous explanations about its decisions and actions. Hashimoto will also face a severe test in this respect.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 19

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