Tokyo Olympics: Mori to leave but gender issue remains

Yoshiro Mori was expected to resign Friday as the president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee following sexist comments implying women talk too much.

Mori's departure at an executive board meeting comes after more than a week of non-stop criticism about his remarks earlier this month.

He initially apologized but refused to step away, which was followed by relentless pressure from television pundits, sponsors, and an online petition that drew 150,000 signatures.

But it's not clear that his resignation will clear the air and return the focus to exactly how Tokyo can hold the Olympics in just over five months in the midst of a pandemic.

The Olympics are to open on July 23, with 11,000 athletes and 4,400 more in the Paralympic a month later. About 80% in recent polls in Japan say they want the Olympics cancelled or postponed with the clear support of about 15 per cent.

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The problem could be the replacement for the 83-year-old Mori. It's widely reported to be 84-year-old Saburo Kawabuchi, the former president of the governing body of Japanese soccer and a former player himself. He played for Japan in the 1964 Olympics.

Kawabuchi is even older than Mori and will raise the issue of why a woman was not appointed. This is the centre of the entire debate that Mori triggered over gender inequality in Japan and the absence of women in boardrooms, politics, and sports governance. Women are also largely absent in leadership roles at the organizing committee.

Kawabuchi indicated he had been contacted by Mori.

"I have to try my best, given that Mr. Mori is in this situation," Kawabuchi told reporters on Thursday.

"I felt so sorry for him. I couldn't say no. I just want to do my best in what will be this final big job in my life."

Japanese media immediately pointed out there were three qualified women — all athletes and former Olympians and at least a generation younger — who could fill the job.

Kaori Yamaguchi won a bronze medal in the 1988 Olympics in judo. Mikako Kotani won two bronze medals in the 1988 Olympics in synchronized swimming. And Naoko Takahashi was a gold medalist in the marathon in the 2000 Olympics.

Mori's remarks have put the spotlight on how far Japan lags behind other prosperous countries in advancing women in politics or the boardrooms. Japan stands 121st out of 153 in the World Economic Forum’s gender equality rankings.

Koichi Nakano, a political scientist at Sophia University in Tokyo, characterized Japan as a country still run "by a club of old men." But he said this could be a watershed.

"Social norms are changing," he wrote in an email to The Associated Press.

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"A clear majority of the Japanese found Mori's comments unacceptable, so the problem is more to do with the lack of representation of women in leadership positions. This sorry episode may have the effect of strengthening the call for greater gender equality and diversity in the halls of power."

Though some on the street called for Mori to resign — several hundred Olympic volunteers say they are withdrawing — most decision-makers including Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga stopped short of this and simply condemned his remarks.

A comment a few days ago from Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda seemed to move the needle.

Toyota is one of 14 so-called Olympic TOP sponsors that pay about $1 billion every four-year cycle to the International Olympic Committee.

The company seldom speaks out on politics, and Toyota did not call for Mori's resignation. But just speaking on the matter might have been enough.

"The (Mori) comment is different from our values, and we find it regrettable," Toyoda said.

Toyota and Coca-Cola also are major sponsors of the torch relay.