Yoshiro Mori, president of the organizing committee for the Tokyo Olympics, said he would not resign after his derogatory comments about women caused a major setback.
Mori, 83, made several remarks about women in sports organizations during a meeting of the Japanese Olympic Committee earlier this week. According to the Japanese daily Asahi Shimbun, the remarks came after Mori was asked about the plan to increase the number of women on the committee to 40 percent of the total.
‘Women have a strong sense of competition. When one raises her hand to speak, all the others also feel that they should speak. “Everyone is finally saying something,” Mori told the Guardian.
‘If I say too much, the newspapers are going to write that I said bad, but I have heard someone say that if we want to increase the number of female councilors, we must regulate speaking time to some extent, otherwise we will I can never finish. I’m not going to say who said that.
“We have about seven women on the organizing committee, but everyone understands their place.”
Widespread setback
The setback of Mori’s comments was intense in Japan, where women are still fighting for representation in politics and business. On Thursday, “Mori, please resign” was on Twitter in Japan, and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga called the remarks “unacceptable” during a parliamentary session.
Kaori Yamaguchi, a director of the Japanese Olympic Committee who has worked tirelessly to increase the number of women in Japanese sports, was disappointed by Mori’s comments.
“Gender equality and respect for people with disabilities were supposed to be a given for the Tokyo Games,” Yamaguchi told Kyodo News. “It is unfortunate to see the chairman of the organizing committee make such a remark.”
Several government officials have also criticized Mori’s sexist remarks. Via the Kyodo News:
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said it was “obvious” that women should be included in the decision-making process, adding that she believed someone “talking too much” was a problem with an individual, rather than their gender. .
Japan’s chief government spokesman, Katsunobu Kato’s secretary general, said the government was committed to gender equality and would continue to promote women to leadership roles in sports organizations.
Mori could not even escape the setback at home. Mori told the Japanese main newspaper Mainichi via the BBC that several female members of his family had shouted at him over his comments.
“Last night my wife scolded me thoroughly. She said, ‘You said something bad again, didn’t you? I’ll have to suffer again because you opposed women.
“This morning my daughter and granddaughter also scolded me.”
Mori apologizes but will not resign
Mori, who in his time as prime minister was known as gaffe-leaning, apologized for his remarks at a news conference on Thursday.
“The statement made by the Olympic Committee in Japan was an inappropriate expression contrary to the spirit of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games,” Mori said. “I am very sorry. I want to withdraw the statement. feelings.”
However, Mori also said he would not resign his position.
“I’m not thinking of resigning,” Mori told the Guardian. ‘I worked hard and dedicated myself to helping [the Tokyo Olympics] for seven years. I will not retire. ”
Later during the news conference, Mori was asked why he said women talk a lot during meetings. According to the Guardian, Mori said: “I don’t talk to women that much these days, so I do not know.”
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