Kasumi Ishikawa Leads Olympic Popularity Poll as National Celebrity Duo Beauty Expected to Become New Sportscaster
“Skateboarder Koi Yoshizawa, who quickly returned to Japan and has been in high demand from various networks, is already booked until next New Year’s special programs. Meanwhile, popular female athlete Haruka Kitaguchi in javelin and Judo’s Aron Wolf, known for his entertaining talk, will likely be seen on variety shows in a set with Takashi Saito, who showcased their great duo during the press conference,” said a TV writer.
The scramble is not just for athletes. Guest commentators and reporters who frequently appeared in broadcasts and commentary are also in high demand.
“For networks always on the lookout for new sports casters, the Olympics are like a trade fair. Kohei Uchimura initially lacked expression and variation in his speech, leading to comments online questioning his motivation. However, he has always been someone who mastered gymnastics through meticulous research. His growth during the Games was remarkable, leading to high praise,” said a sports program director.
Amidst this, the most popular by far was still Kasumi Ishikawa.
“Her adorable looks and high responsiveness on site led to a huge boost in her evaluation. However, as a sportscaster, a certain level of knowledge about other sports is required, so there is a sense that it might be a bit early for her. Nonetheless, offers for variety shows and other programs will definitely increase,” said the director mentioned earlier.
On the other hand, there was a lot of criticism regarding the commentary of Akemi Masuda, once highly popular in women’s marathon. Comments included, “She doesn’t sync well with the announcer” and “Stop blurting out personal information about athletes.”
“Is this a sign of the times? Akemi Masuda’s commentary was popular for its detailed information beyond sports, but it also faced criticism for ‘invasion of privacy.’ It seems that commentators who conveyed the sport’s details accurately and calmly received higher praise,” said the director mentioned earlier.
Unexpectedly, there is praise for a surprising figure from various networks. Although she appeared only as a voice, Kumiko Ogura, known as ‘Og’ from the badminton duo ‘Ogushio,’ was highly rated by sports network staff for her precise commentary and excellent speaking skills.
“While Reiko Shiota is more frequently seen on local stations like TV Asahi’s ‘Good Morning,’ some might wonder, ‘Why Ogura and not Shiota?’ However, Ogura occasionally appears on ‘Sunday Morning’ (TBS) when badminton tournaments are held. She has also been a long-time regular on ‘Dodesuka!’ (Meitetsu).
As a commentator, she is actually quite experienced, with knowledge of individual player data and constantly updated information. Her commentary during the Olympics was accurate and efficient, and her affectionate remarks about younger players received high praise on social media and from viewers. In this sense, she might be the most suited for a sportscaster role among the commentators of this Games,” said the director mentioned earlier.
Speaking of women’s badminton, Kimiko Jinnai, a veteran who also provided live coverage from Paris, has increasingly appeared on ‘news every.’ (Nippon TV).
“Actually, Kimiko Jinnai’s most cherished junior is Kumiko Ogura. Since Ogura started working as a commentator, Jinnai has been providing various guidance. Some viewers might wonder ‘Why?’ regarding Jinnai’s long-standing presence on Nippon TV’s evening news program for over 30 years.
However, Jinnai, who diligently studies and manages her voice while paying attention to complex kanji readings, is highly regarded by her peers. Even Takahiko Fujii, a former announcer, trusted her with his duties upon his departure. With Jinnai coaching Ogura as a commentator and analyst, she has a very strong ally,” said a news program staff member.
During the Paris Olympics, images of ‘Ogushio,’ posted on social media by Reiko Shiota, who reunited with Ogura after a long time, stirred excitement among netizens. With accurate comments and affectionate commentary, ‘Og’ seems set to increase her appearances on national networks in the future.
The “Ogushio” pair at the Paris Olympics (from Reiko Shiota’s Instagram @reikoshiota_official)
PHOTO： Afro
