The All Japan Judo Federation announced on Thursday the formation of a third-party advisory committee to handle crisis management in the wake of a whistle-blowing scandal in which 15 top female judo wrestlers accused their former coach of physical and verbal abuse.
Haruo Kasama, 65, a former prosecutor general, will head up the committee. Other members will include Japan Football Association vice president Kozo Tashima, 55, professor of psychiatry at Rikkyo University Rika Kayama, 52, Pierre Flamand, 41, a Keio University judo coach and a former judoka for the French national team, and karate expert Yuko Takahashi, 32.
The committee, which will provide advice to the AJJF on how to verify cases of abuse as well as lay out suggestions for reforms, is scheduled to meet next Tuesday and again on March 1 and 8.