Japan Press Weekly

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2021 February 10 - 16 TOP3 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Shii comments on Tokyo Olympics organizing committee president’s resignation over sexist remarks

President of the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) Mori Yoshiro on February 12 announced his decision to step down to take responsibility for his sexist remarks.

This announcement was made in a meeting of council and executive board members of the organizing committee.

At the meeting, Mori, while admitting that he made inappropriate remarks, showed no sign of remorse. He said that his remarks came under fire due to a misunderstanding and that he had no intent to look down on women. Furthermore, he blamed the media for their misleading reports regarding his remarks.

Tokyo 2020 Chief Executive Officer Muto Toshiro at a press conference after the meeting said that the organizing committee will set up a selection committee to choose a new Tokyo Games head.

In reaction to the resignation of the sexist Tokyo Olympic chief, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo in the Diet building said to the press that it is not surprising at all and pointed out that Mori’s outrageous remarks turned the spotlight on a structural distortion in Japanese society that allows continued discrimination against women. He said, “It’s notable that soon after the news about Mori’s sexist remarks came out, many people voiced their anger with the slogan, ‘Don’t be silent!’, which offers hope for the future of Japanese society. Together with concerned citizens, the JCP will work to develop joint efforts to correct the distortion.”

Furthermore, criticizing the Suga government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party for defending Mori, Shii pointed out that although Prime Minister Suga could advise Mori to resign under the organizing committee-set rules, PM Suga just took an unconcerned stance. Shii said that the first step toward achieving a gender-equal society is to replace the Suga government.

Shii also pointed out that no one in the organizing committee called for Mori’s resignation, which exposes a major problem. Referring to news reports that a move to select Mori’s successor behind closed doors will be made, Shii said that the need is for the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee to deal with issues regarding Mori’s sexist remarks openly, express its remorse, and decide on future policies.

Shii noted that the government intends to push forward toward the opening of the Olympic Games this summer after overcoming the controversy over Mori’s remarks. Shii pointed out that numerous issues, which the JCP presented in regard to the holding of the Summer Games under the pandemic situation, have yet to be properly addressed. He said, “The JCP will again propose that the 2020 Summer Games be cancelled and all efforts be concentrated on dealing with the pandemic.”

Past related articles:
> Tokyo Games' head Mori looks down on women [February 6, 2021]
> Japan gov't defends sexist head of Tokyo Games [February 6 & 7, 2021]