"Joseon-jin" Slur Scandal: Japanese Chairman "Quietly Returns" → Again at the Helm... "Official Announcement": Term Until 2028

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Kita No Takahiro (62), former president of the Japan Bobsleigh, Luge and Skeleton Federation, who was forced to resign in disgrace after spewing the racist slur "Joseon-jin" at a Korean during a meeting, has officially returned as president of the Nagano Prefecture Ski Association, a public interest incorporated foundation. This marks his reappearance on an official stage as the head of another winter sports organization just over five months after he resigned from all his positions in the sports administration in May.

The Nagano Prefecture Ski Association announced via its official website, "We held our regular council and board of directors meeting at a hotel in Nagano City on Thursday, October 29," adding, "A new executive team, including President Kita No Takahiro, was appointed." According to the association, the term for the newly appointed board members, including President Kita No, will last until the conclusion of the regular council held in 2028.

President Kita No's return to a sports organization is his first since the massive scandal that shook Japan's winter sports community in May. Kita No had previously monopolized control of the Japan Bobsleigh, Luge and Skeleton Federation for 14 years, wielding unchecked power. However, due to a fatal administrative error by the federation, the men's bobsleigh team was absurdly stripped of its qualification for the Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics held in February.

The ugly reality that emerged during the aftermath of the incident delivered an even greater shock. According to reports from Japanese media outlets such as "Slow News," former President Kita No, when a victimized director demanded improvements to support measures, said, "Analyzing results is something even a fool or a Joseon-jin can do," using derogatory racist slurs against Koreans and causing a fierce uproar. It was also revealed that internally, he had displayed hypocritical behavior by routinely stating, "Korea cannot be trusted," and ignoring cooperation proposals from the 2018 PyeongChang Commemorative Foundation of the Republic of Korea, drawing criticism for directly violating the Olympic Charter.

When the racist scandal sparked international outrage, former national team athletes said, "The dam has finally broken," demanding an end to the dictatorial regime. Ultimately, Kita No resigned in disgrace on May 12, stepping down not only from his position as president of the bobsleigh federation but also from his roles as vice-president and director of the Japan Olympic Committee (JOC).

In response to the incident, JOC President Hashimoto Seiko held an official press conference, bowing her head to say, "The resignation of former Vice-President Kita No is regrettable, and we will work to restore trust through sound management." The entire Japanese sports community suffered severe aftershocks. Subsequently, the bobsleigh federation appointed Fukuzawa Yoichi (49), a member of the House of Representatives from the Liberal Democratic Party, as its new president. At the time, newly appointed President Fukuzawa stated, "Athletes, staff, and federation officials will all unite as one team to move forward toward the next Olympics," launching organizational reforms to erase the mistakes of his predecessor.

President Kita No, who had been stripped of his JOC vice-presidency and forced to step down due to international controversy over his remarks and administrative failures, returned to the presidency via the Nagano Prefecture Ski Association's regular board meeting just five months later, once again set to lead a sports organization until 2028.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original