Kasumi Ishikawa Leads Olympic Popularity Poll as National Celebrity Duo Beauty Expected to Become New Sportscaster

“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).