TOKYO (Reuters) – Tokyo Olympics creative head Hiroshi Sasaki has said he has resigned after making a shameful comment about Japanese women’s entertainment, in the latest controversy over insensitive ideas towards women to beat the organizers of the Games.
Sasaki, who has been the lead creative director for the opening and closing ceremonies at this year’s Games, said he had told a design group through a group chat that Naomi Watanabe could take part as an “Olympig”.
“There was a very inappropriate feeling in my comments and ideas,” Sasaki said in a statement issued through Games organizers in the early hours of Thursday. “I sincerely apologize to her and to people who have felt uncomfortable with such content.”
Sasaki said he had told Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto late Wednesday night that he was resigning.
Hashimoto and Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto plans to address the issue at a press conference on Thursday, organizers said.
Sasaki’s resignation came quickly after the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun reported his comments on Wednesday.
Last month, Yoshiro Mori resigned as president of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee after provoking a fur with sexual comments when he said women talk too much.
The 83-year-old Mori, a former prime minister, has replaced athlete politician Hashimoto who has pledged that gender equality will be a top priority at the Games.
Sasaki was named head of the creative team in December as Olympic organizers looked at plans to update for simpler rituals after the Tokyo Games were pushed back a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Olympics are scheduled from 23 July to 8 August and the Paralympics from 24 August to 5 September.