Ex-Tokyo Olympics chief Yoshiro Mori under fire for another sexist remark

Mori, 83, said during a party that an employee who worked for a Japanese lawmaker was ‘too old to call a woman’
He stepped down as head of the Tokyo Olympics organising committee last month after saying women talk too much

Japan

Kyodo

Published: 9:17pm, 26 Mar 2021

Why you can trust SCMP

Former Tokyo Olympics chief Yoshiro Mori, who resigned last month amid backlash over derogatory remarks toward women, may come under renewed criticism after saying on Friday that a female political staffer was “too old to call a woman”.

Mori, 83, directed the comment towards an employee of Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Takeo Kawamura.

“There’s an old lady in Mr Kawamura’s room. She’s too old to call a woman,” Mori, a former prime minister, said at a Tokyo party hosted by Kawamura.

Tokyo Olympics boss steps down over ‘chaos’ caused by sexist remarks

Mori stepped down as head of the Tokyo Olympics organising committee after coming under fire at home and abroad for saying meetings with women tend to “drag on” because they talk too much. He later apologised and retracted the remarks.

Seiko Hashimoto, a seven-time Olympian who was serving as Olympics minister, stepped in as Mori’s replacement, vowing to hold a games that is “welcomed by the people”.

Controversy has plagued the games, which already face difficulties related to precautions against Covid-19 and scepticism among the Japanese public with just months to go.

Tokyo Games creative chief wanted to dress plus-size celeb as ‘Olympig’

The Summer Games’ creative director, Hiroshi Sasaki, also resigned after it was revealed he had privately suggested plus-sized celebrity Naomi Watanabe dress as a pig for the opening ceremony.

“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.”

Japanese torchbearer Motoko Obayashi lights the celebration cauldron at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games torch relay in Fukushima Prefecture on March 26, 2021. Photo: AFP

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Friday said he expected to invite President Joe Biden to the Tokyo Olympics when he makes a trip to the United States next month.

Suga, who is expected to visit the White House on April 9, has also said he is willing to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and is open to meeting his powerful sister, Kim Yo-jong, if she visited Japan during the Tokyo Games. However, Suga did not say if he would invite either of them.

The Tokyo Olympics opens on July 23. It was postponed a year ago because of the coronavirus pandemic. Organisers said a few days ago that fans from abroad would not be allowed to attend.

The Olympics torch relay began its 121-day journey across Japan from Fukushima Prefecture on Thursday and was headed towards the opening ceremony in Tokyo.

The Olympics and Paralympics will involve 15,400 athletes, and tens of thousands of officials, judges, VIPs, dignitaries, media and broadcasters.

Post