Tokyo Olympics creative chief quits over pitch to dress plus-size celebrity as ‘Olympig’

Hiroshi Sasaki had suggested having fashion icon Naomi Watanabe descend from the sky in a ‘cute pink costume’ during the opening ceremony

His resignation is another blow to the Japanese organising committee, already reeling from the uproar following sexist remarks by ex-chief Yoshiro Mori

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Hiroshi Sasaki has resigned as chief executive creative director of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 2:29am, 18 Mar 2021Updated: 2:32am, 18 Mar 2021

Hiroshi Sasaki, head creative director for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, said early on Thursday that he would step down over a derogatory suggestion involving a popular female entertainer he made last year to some planning staff members.

In yet another setback for the Japanese organising committee of the Summer Games, Sasaki’s announcement came after weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun reported on Wednesday that he proposed last March an idea involving 33-year-old entertainer Naomi Watanabe, a plus-size fashion icon in Japan and abroad, coming down from the sky as a pig as part of the Olympic opening ceremony.

Sasaki, who is in charge of all four opening and closing ceremonies for the Tokyo Games, released a statement through the organising committee, apologising to Watanabe and admitting his proposal to a group of planning members through the messaging app Line at the time was supposed to be a play on the word “Olympic” with “Olympig”.

“There was a very inappropriate expression in my ideas and remarks,” the 66-year-old said. “I sincerely apologise to her and people who have felt discomfort with such contents.”

Sasaki, who formerly worked with Japan’s powerful advertising agency Dentsu Inc., said he retracted the idea after it was criticised by the members.