Even if he’s not on the screen, he’s still passionate about his work,” said a source. …… Shuzo Matsuoka is on the precipice of “dropping out of the Olympics coverage” due to budget cuts.
On February 5, it was announced that Hina Hayata (23), Miu Hirano (23), and Miwa Zhang (15) had been selected as the women’s table tennis representatives for the Paris Olympics.
Just before that, at the All-Japan Table Tennis Championships held until January 28, the former athletes went beyond hot and bothered, running around the venue in a “hot and bothered” manner. He was running around the venue in a “hot and bothered” mood.
The tournament was held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium and featured a full lineup of Japan’s top table tennis players. In the table tennis world, it is important to participate in the Olympics, but the All-Japan Championships are just as important. It is only when you are at the top of your game at this event that you are recognized as a true top player. The media paid a lot of attention, and there were many reporters and photographers gathered,” said a reporter in charge of amateur sports for a sports newspaper.
More conspicuous than the athletes was Shuzo Matsuoka, 56, a sportscaster.
On the final day of the tournament, Matsuoka dashed to the front row of the post-match press conference room. When Hina Hayata, the winner of the women’s singles competition, revealed that she had been chanting ‘para para fried rice’ like a Buddhist prayer during the match, Matsuoka immediately urged her to ‘explain because I don’t understand what it means. Hayata replied, “I’m sorry, no one can understand,” and the press conference room erupted with excitement. After that, he continued to listen intently, staring into the faces of the reporters who stood up to ask questions, all serious. Even when he is not on camera, he is very dedicated to his work,’ said a source close to the press conference.
Matsuoka is active in a wide range of fields, from sports to variety shows. While his passionate work is highly appreciated, he is “standing on the precipice,” according to a TV Asahi official who produces “News Station,” on which he appears regularly.
There are whispers that he is in danger of being dropped. The reason is budget cuts. They can no longer afford to use a talent like Shuzo. Compared to the London Olympics in 2012, the number of passes for coverage of the Paris Olympics has been reduced to one-third, so it has not yet been decided whether Shuzo will be able to go to Paris or not.
FRIDAY has learned that Matsuoka is counted as a member of the Paris Olympics press corps, but he may not be seen at the next international sporting event. Will he be able to continue to win the “unbeatable casting war” with his usual passion?
