TOKYO (Reuters) – Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said on Friday that the Olympic Games were going against a “major issue” after the leader of the organizing committee made sexual comments and how criticism of his comments showed no sign of stopping.
Yoshiro Mori, 83, sparked a firestorm on social media both at home and abroad this week with comments that women were talking too much, comments made in a meeting with Japan’s Olympic Committee (JOC) that he withdrew and apologized but refused to resign.
“The mission of the metropolis and the organizing committee is to prepare for a safe, secure Games, and we have a big issue ahead of us,” Koike said.
Anger over Mori’s comments is likely to further attack the Japanese public population over Tokyo’s efforts to hold the Games in times of pandemic. Nearly 80 percent of the public is opposed to holding the Games in July, according to the latest poll.
The International Olympic Committee said Thursday that Mori’s apology had resolved the issue, but criticism of Mori, who was prime minister of Japan, continued on Friday.
“There is all sorts of criticism. I would hope that people are convinced that (preparing for) the Games must go ahead with the understanding and co-operation of people all over the world,” said a senior Japanese government spokesman Katsunobu Kato at a press conference.
He said it was the government’s understanding that the IOC thought the case was closed, but said: “It is an opinion that should not have been made.”
Angry and frustrated Japanese athletes and activists see his comments as a clear indication that gender equality in Japanese sports, and society as a whole, remains a distant dream.
Japan consistently follows its peers on promoting gender equality, ranking 121 out of 153 countries surveyed in the 2020 global gender gap report at the World Economic Forum.
“I was feeling angry for the first time in a while,” footballer Shiho Shimoyamada said in a tweet.
“It is completely pointless to withdraw open-minded opinions. If you do not acknowledge prejudice and take action against it, I believe the same thing will happen again. . “
An online petition launched by Change.org calling for “Looking to address Mori and prevent recycling” had received 12,000 signatures by noon on Friday.
Other cabinet ministers also announced Mori.
Takuya Hirai, cabinet minister in charge of digital transformation, was summoned by Kyodo News agency saying: “I can’t imagine what made him give that kind of opinion. It’s impossible.”