Seiko Hashimoto has been elected as the new President of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC), becoming the first woman to ever lead the organisation. The 60-year-old was chosen by the JOC Executive Board on Thursday after a close vote against two other candidates.
Hashimoto is a former Olympian, having competed in seven Olympic Games, four in speed skating and three in cycling, and won a bronze medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville. She also played a key role as the President of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee.
This marks the first time the JOC has held an internal leadership election since becoming independent from the Japan Sport Association in 1989. The other candidates were Yuko Mitsuya, the acting JOC President and head of the Japan Basketball Association, and Kozo Tashima, former President of the Japan Football Association.
After several voting rounds, Hashimoto won in the final round against Mitsuya. Her election represents a shift towards more openness and reform in JOC decision-making.
At a press conference, Hashimoto said, “This is the first election in JOC history, and I’m honoured to become its first female president. I will carry out my duties with humility.”
Her appointment comes while she is under public scrutiny over a political funding controversy involving Japan’s ruling party. However, she denied all wrongdoing, saying, “There was no slush fund or misreporting. I would not have run if I were under suspicion.”
Hashimoto is also the first politician to lead the JOC since its structural changes, aimed at reducing political influence. She is currently a member of Japan’s Upper House and a close ally of former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Support for her grew after she expressed interest in bidding to host another Olympic and Paralympic Games in Japan. She also promised to improve transparency and push for reforms in the JOC.
She takes over from Yasuhiro Yamashita, who won Olympic gold in judo at the 1984 Games, and had served as JOC President for three terms. He has been unable to carry out his duties since suffering a serious spinal injury in 2023.
Hashimoto’s two-year term begins at a difficult time, with falling sponsorships and shifting public interest in sport. She is expected to focus on both continuing the JOC’s work and introducing much-needed changes to keep Japan active on the global Olympic stage.
