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TOKYO – Seiko Hashimoto is no stranger to the Olympics, having appeared in seven of the matches as a speed skater and cyclist, more than any other woman in Japan.
After decades spent in Japan’s traditionally male-dominated sports and political circles, she now takes on a new challenge as head of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee.
But a few months from the end, his challenges are enormous. The committee is facing headwinds from the coronavirus and the sexist comments of his predecessor Yoshiro Mori, who resigned after his comments that women “talk too much” at meetings have sparked global outrage. His ties to Mori are also subject to close scrutiny.
Many described her as “born to compete in the Olympics” in her heyday as an athlete. She was the first Japanese athlete to participate in the summer and winter games. After becoming a member of the upper house, she continued to train and competed in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. Until her appointment as head of the committee, she was cabinet minister responsible for the Tokyo Games. since 2019.
In addition to leading the Japanese Skating and Cycling Federations, Hashimoto has also led the Japanese delegation to several Olympic Games and served as the Head of Athlete Education for the Japanese Olympic Committee.
“She is a leader who respects opinions on the pitch and can reflect on how athletes and coaches feel,” said a JOC source.
His dedication to his fellow athletes was showcased at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, when a snowboarder was outraged by his outfit and offhand comments. Hashimoto insisted he compete despite criticism, offering to take “full responsibility” for the athlete.
During her tenure as head of the Japan Skating Federation, she also established an Athletes’ Commission designed to ensure athlete participation in the organization. The JOC and other sports groups have since launched a similar framework.
“She’s more of an auditory than a top-down sort of leader,” a source in Japanese sports circles said.
When Japan failed to win a single medal in speed skating at the Sochi 2014 Olympics, she appointed a new unconventional training coordinator with no previous competition or training experience. She also shifted the focus of the national team to corporate teams on their objection. The move paid off, with Japan winning three gold, two silver and one bronze at the Pyeongchang Olympics four years later.
Hashimoto competed in the Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics as a cyclist, becoming the first Japanese to compete in the Summer and Winter Olympics. © Kyodo
“She is caring and has no enemies,” another sports source said. This reputation continued in his political career of more than 20 years.
In 2016, Hashimoto became the first woman to chair the general assembly of deputies of the upper house of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. She used her collaborative skills to lead the approximately 120 members of the corps, who belonged to different factions within the party, in close partnership with the secretary general of the assembly.
She also shed light on the fact that Japanese lawmakers did not have parental leave when she had a child as a member of the Upper House in 2000.
Still, some have expressed concerns about his close ties to Mori. She decided to enter the world of politics at the behest of Mori, who, as secretary general of the LDP, convinced her to run for the upper house.
In 2019, after Hashimoto’s appointment as Minister of the Olympics, Mori said he considered her “like a girl” at an event.
“He’s my father,” Hashimoto replied quickly.
Hashimoto called Mori a “political mentor” and “extremely important figure” at a press conference Thursday. “There will be situations where I need his advice,” she said.
“She will likely seek Mori’s opinion on the decisions,” an LDP official said. While this does mean that Hashimoto will have access to Mori’s connections and influence, it’s unclear how the dynamic would be received by the international community.
Past allegations that Hashimoto force-kissed a male athlete also added to the controversy.
The Tokyo Olympics are expected to begin in less than six months. With little time to spare, Hashimoto faces a difficult task to prove that his leadership skills go beyond facilitating cooperation.
“His ability to handle difficult negotiations and decisions has not yet been proven,” said one critic.
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