Photo/Illutration Mariko Hayashi, chairperson of Nihon University’s board of trustees, apologizes at the beginning of a news conference in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward on Dec. 4. (Shinnosuke Ito)

No final decision has been made on the fate of Nihon University’s embattled American football program, according to the university’s board of trustees chairperson. 

Despite earlier reports, Mariko Hayashi said that the internal committee’s recent decision to disband the football team following an illegal drug scandal is not a foregone conclusion, but one of the options, as deliberations continue.

Hayashi held a news conference at the university’s headquarters in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward on Dec. 4 to discuss the school’s handling of the scandal and its plans for improvement.

“I deeply apologize once again for the great concern and inconvenience we have caused,” Hayashi said at the beginning of the news conference. 

This was her second news conference over the matter in nearly four months since Aug. 8.

Also in attendance at the news conference were Toshiyuki Mashiko, head of the sports sciences department who also leads the committee that is examining measures to prevent a recurrence of the drug incident; and lawyer Hideaki Kubori, who chairs a third-party panel that drafted an improvement plan.

The decision to disband the club team was made at the school’s internal meeting on Nov. 28 over the alleged use of marijuana by members of the team.

But at a subsequent meeting of the board of trustees, the matter was still under consideration.

“We will (decide) as soon as possible,” Hayashi said.

Mashiko also explained that the Nov. 28 decision was based on concerns that the students’ behavior was collective and habitual, given that the team’s dormitory was reportedly the scene of the crime.

“As a university, we cannot guarantee the safety of the American football team members and students from each department,” he said.

Mashiko said this was the consensus of all deans.

If the club is discontinued, Mashiko said, “We have no intention of preventing students from playing American football for external club teams or recreational groups.”

“We would like to fulfill our accountability to the students and consider a support system for student life,” he said.

A public outcry has emerged since it was reported in the media that the football program would be ended. 

As of Dec. 4, 28,000 signatures had been collected online demanding the retraction of the decision to disband the American football club.

University Vice President Yasuhiro Sawada and President Takeo Sakai have decided to resign to take responsibility for the drug scandal.

Asked whether Hayashi would follow suit or remain in her role, she reiterated her intention to continue in office.

“I know there are many opinions. But we are in the middle of a reform, so I feel very strongly that we must accomplish (the reform). I would like people to understand that,” she said.

As part of the reform, she said, “We must consider personnel changes immediately.”

When asked about the progress of the reform, Hayashi compared it to climbing Mount Fuji, saying, “We just arrived at the Fuji-Yoshida Station, (now Mount Fuji Station). So now we have to take a bus to the Fifth Station.”

Nihon University has been disqualified from receiving full operating fiscal subsidies for three consecutive years due to a series of scandals, which included financial scandals that led to the arrests of the ousted university board chairman and a former university board member. 

“We are not thinking about raising tuition fees,” Hayashi clearly stated in response to any financial difficulties. 

She said the university is considering selling property not being used and cutting expenses.

Regarding the lawsuit filed by Sawada against her for alleged power harassment, Hayashi said, “I cannot answer that question because the case is still pending.”

Sawada alleges that he was forbidden from attending in-school meetings when a third-party committee was investigating the use of cannabis by football team members and that Hayashi pressured him to resign. 

(This article was written by Masayuki Takashima and Hajime Ueno.)

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