With Olympics at stake, Mori seen as too influential to push aside

Every female nurse, physio, doctor and volunteer should resign their services from the Olympics.

if you are influenced by this hot bag of dirt then I feel sorry for you

Ojisanism ! Must retire and never be seen occupying any public office that will give him the platform to make such offensive remarks again.

The reporter seems to have interviewed only Mori's lackeys and a collection of other reactionary sycophants with vested interests in this fiasco. How about, for example, talking to the tens of thousands of volunteers who immediately told the committee "sayonara"? How "influential" was Mori when that happened?

I like Mr Mori. I am glad he is on the committee.

This article has really put me off my breakfast. Enabling at the highest level.

He has also built "a relationship on equal terms" with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, according to one government source.

A partnership of malign influence.

But as long as his status is acknowledged that is the important thing privileged soon to have a legacy of failure sons.

I’m so confused. An 83-year-old is too influential to fire? Isn’t it entirely possible that he could pass away at any moment? (Sorry to be morbid—just reality)

There is no backup plan!?

“NO Olympics if he resigns”

!?!?!??

I’ve been shocked before but this is on another level!

Man,when a buffoon becomes too influential it is time to realize that things have to change.

What’s the Tokyo Olympics motto again?

’Diversity in Unity.l

i sure see a lot of oyaji unity going on but a total lack of diversity.

Lip service yet again.

"If he resigns, there'll be no Olympics..." a government source said.

Given that polls say that 80% of Japanese people want the olympics canceled or delayed you may have just given people a second big reason to call for his resignation.

Let the old git carry the Olympic torch all the way from Fukuoka to Tokyo to atone for his very non PC comments !

Japan Inc is run by men, for men and of men.

The obvious— and unanswered— question is not what this man's most recent offensive remark is, but why, of all the decent, capable people in Japan, is he the head of the Tokyo Olympic committee.

@TheAvenger,

That one is pretty easy to answer.

Cronyism.

Right, the LDP in effect pushed aside Abe, but they can't push aside Mori? What a joke!

Now is the time to push harder! I wouldn't be surprised if he got dumped if athletes started withdrawing from the games in protest!

Sorry... it's okay to be rude and sexist if money is at stake? Japan should have higher standards.

"... whatever the cost," 

There's that phrase again. Remarkably common phrase from the J-Gov. They seem to think it's a perfectly acceptable response when completely ignoring the wishes of the people they supposedly represent.

Sports environment in Japan is most behind the time next to political environment.

@TokyoJoe: Agreed. On the same note, the Olympics will be cancelled for good once athletes, medical staff and/or volunteers will decide not to take part in the games. That will seal the deal.

I just don't think he's going to last long. And I'm not talking about his role in the Olympics.

People need to get over being offended so easily

absolutely spineless. Mori must go, along with the Olympics.

"If he resigns, there'll be no Olympics. We need him to continue whatever the cost," a government source said.

So if the cost is people hating the whole event, Japan becoming an international Joke and the management of the pandemic becoming completely disorganized, so be it?

At least some people are being honest about their priorities,

And these same Japanese and Bach would say the same if he made a racist remark or denigrated the handicapped? What's the difference? He violated the "spirit" of the Olympics, if he can continue then all the niceties people say about the games are out the window. If these clowns don't do the right thing, they may face a boycott.

"If he resigns, there'll be no Olympics. We need him to continue whatever the cost," a government source said.

How so when there is a large pull of youngsters supported by the taxpayers willing to replace the archaic antique to a museum in order to keep the Olympics moving in unity and diversity. If he is allowed to continue then there is no point to the games outside the mindset of blame due to the pandemic as if this isn't enough to deal with in the coming future. This guy should retire not because of his age but his comments that totally demeaner and not represent the overall Olympics. IF not then no woman should be a part of the Tokyo Olympics per this statements and his true meaning behind his words.

So if the cost is people hating the whole event, Japan becoming an international Joke and the management of the pandemic becoming completely disorganized, so be it?

At least some people are being honest about their priorities,

exactly! well said!

Is there an Olympics tennis event?

If so, will Naomi be playing?

I’d like to hear her opinion on this old fella.

Moderator: She has already given it. You'll find the story in our Sports section.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said in parliament that Mori's remarks "completely diverge from the important Olympic ethos of gender equality" but declined to directly address calls for his resignation.

Looking at this sentence... it looks like Mori's remark does not diverge that much from Suga's ethos of gender equality...

Such a shame.

Mori the LDP Moocher is the perfect mascot for Olympic corruption and political bad taste. He won't win any medals for his divisive performance in this debacle, more likely to take a dive only when covid collapses the Tokyo Games, because for bigwigs saving face and their sinecures always comes first.

You cant remove Mori, hes a part of Japans intangible cultural heritage. The almighty oyaji, barrier to change and progress.

'highly influential former prime minister'

'holds powerful sway in the political, business and sporting arenas'

'his formidable clout and coordinating ability'

This reads like a list of his 'greatest achievements' in an to attempt to convince readers of how 'necessary' he is. Didn't need to get to the bottom of the article to know it'd been written by a domestic news agency. IOC is just as culpable as the JOC and J Gvt' at this point. They're just digging their grave deeper on this.

Sorry, @John 8:49a JST She’s outspoken in the US and abroad, but in Japan... "*Those living in the sporting field have to live in a world with *Mori at the summit." This guy’s ‘got dirt on everyone involved’. She’s mum.

His crime: Saying women talk to much.

If this is the level of comments that you expect people to lose their jobs over then I feel sorry for you.

Diversity in Unity

Ha ha, what a joke. This exposes both the IOC, whose commitment to everything aside from lining their pockets is perfunctory, and how the LDP works, where Mori is clearly way above his boss on paper, Education minister Koichi Hagiuda. The JOC is part of Monbukagakusho.

Only 6.8% of the public want Mori and 85% of them don't want the Games this year. The government is showing them utter contempt.

And these same Japanese and Bach would say the same if he made a racist remark or denigrated the handicapped? 

Had Mori said something about gays or BLM, I think they'd have had to do something. Japanese women need to be more vocal. Not voting for the LDP would be a start.

If this article doesnt illustrate a TON about what is so so so wrong with Japan & how it is """"run""" ........then I dont know where to point you to show how clearly messed up Japan is that articles like this make the light of day!!!!

That said I am NOT surprised at all, the rot sadly looks to continue here for a long long time yet!

I think the idiom "Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic" comes to mind. Even if Mori is replaced, you'll just have some other oyajisaur in charge of the impending catastrophe. It might be even more difficult for a fresh face to cancel.

Sadly as long as people like Mori are kept in key positions then the reputation of Japan worldwide will suffer. But only the Japanese voters can fix this !

'highly influential former prime minister'

'holds powerful sway in the political, business and sporting arenas'

'his formidable clout and coordinating ability'

It seems like the author is trying to convince the foreign audience/community and themself that Mori is actually needed. The advertisers who pay them must have been leaning over their shoulder as they typed!

https://japantoday.com/category/sports/tennis-star-osaka-slams-'ignorant'-sexism-from-tokyo-olympics-chief

"If he resigns, there'll be no Olympics."

Sounds like a double win to me.

Clear your desk and start saving us money. This white elephant is only helping those with their snouts in the trough. The rest of the people here can happily live without this money pit.

Go, old man.

Give the job to someone who is not a senile old git. Simple!

Nothing new.

Japan should be placed #153 out of #153 in the gender equality ranking countries, or worse. ha

Mori-san already apologized for his comments.

Just let him work.

Here in Japanese media found one issue and pushing to dead end, why?

Media have lot's of things to concentrate to overcome COVID-19 shock in economy.

Hope athletes help speak up against this, the only thing more "influential" than him are the athletes.

If he resigns, there'll be no Olympics.

Sounds like a plan

Hope athletes help speak up against this, the only thing more "influential" than him are the athletes.

Unfortunately the JOC is holding the event "hostage" against this, by saying that the Olympics would be cancelled if they drop Mori they made sure that anybody that want the games happening will not make too much fuzz about it.

On the other hand it gives more ammunition to everybody else, that see this as yet another reason to cancel the whole thing already.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said in parliament that Mori's remarks "completely diverge from the important Olympic ethos of gender equality"

Why do I get the feeling that Suga is acting like just an observer instead of a leader?

"If he resigns, there'll be no Olympics. We need him to continue whatever the cost," a government source said.

Resign!

"If he resigns, there'll be no Olympics. We need him to continue whatever the cost," a government source said.

Absurd, irrational statement to make.

"Those living in the sporting field have to live in a world with Mori at the summit."

If Mori san is the most innovative, pioneering. the very definition of efficient structured organization, the best this government could find to lead the Japan multi-billion 2020/2021/2022 Olympic games.

Be afraid, be very afraid.

I like Mr Mori. I am glad he is on the committee.

What is it, in particular, that you like about him?

His policies when he was in charge, or his dismissing half the planet's population with his ignorant sexism?

"If he resigns, there'll be no Olympics. We need him to continue whatever the cost," a government source said.

Were he to pass away peacefully (as 83-year-olds are unfortunately prone to do) I find it hard to believe that Japan would be unable to drum up a substitute oyaji with the necessary qualifications. There are a LOT of 70-something oyaji in need of amakudari positions who would be more than happy to chair meetings.

Sorry, everyone. The ‘popular vote’ NEVER counts. Judges, officials and ‘super-delegates’ will ALWAYS

‘RULE as THEY see fit’.

“Sports’ are like ‘Politics” and..., “Politics’ are ‘a sport”.

There will be NO CHANGE anytime soon.

https://www.nupoliticalreview.com/2019/02/26/politics-and-sports-a-long-and-complicated-relationship/

‘Take it or Leave it’, like the American elections in the last 30 years, the ‘citizens have NO real power’. It’s either “Blue Team or, Red Team”

He apologized but doesn't mean it, just s

Never never can change old men thinking always looking down on women.

Poor wife I'm sorry for her.

Just save job saying sorry.

JT is flogging this story hard.

According to the Japan Times, only 6.8% of people asked considered this risisble old buffoon qualifies for the job which pays him 2M JPY a month of our money.

I have been here long enough to remember his 7% approval rate as PM.

Which begs the question: Is there ANYTHING an LDP Old Boy can do badly enough to face real consequences?

"We can't address the problem of sexist oafs inhabiting powerful positions because they inhabit powerful positions"

So we have to tolerate boorish behavior because a bad idea is at risk? I think not.

I can quite understand why Mori said women waste time in meetings because they talk too much. Probably meant to say they talk too much in English so that many foreigners on the IOC can understand.

It is just unfortunate that the head of the JOC does not speak or understand English, so to him speaking English is equivalent to wasting time.

I think this kind of remark should not cause someone’s position and create mockery? It’s about time people take a vote on what is worth losing one’s job on.

Pretty harsh when it’s just a comment that majority of my female friends feel it’s true! We tend to talk more at a meeting! Capish! We understand! At least we are honest about it. My friends and I do not feel it’s an insult. We thought it was funny.

No surprise the government doesn't want to side with the public on this one. 80% were against the Olympics, now it's that again if not more. Most want Mori out, but who cares? We must all cooperate as they insist on us trusting them again.

"If he resigns, there'll be no Olympics. We need him to continue whatever the cost," 

Pathetic!

What about if he’s fired?

It's not his age that irks. It's his casual misogyny.

We all age, as some of the younger posters will eventually find out, but we don't have to hold archaic and offensive beliefs.

JT is flogging this story hard.

Well, yes. A high profile Japanese Olympics/Paralympics official (and former PM) strikes a blow against gender equality - with a world wide audience - by insulting half the population of the planet.

It does Japan's image serious harm. The only people applauding his rancid comments are, what we used to call, MCPs and other wrong 'uns who delight in seeing women denigrated and made light of.

just use our money. Hold it with no women, no spectators, and no countries with more than 10000 deaths. (Japan is 6000). We will get all the medals!!!

Every female nurse, physio, doctor and volunteer should resign their services from the Olympics.

Don't prevent the men from protesting Mori's nonsense. Let me fix it for you:

Everyone should resign their services from the Olympics.

Is just a matter of time, short one if you will, that Tokyo Olympics 2020 is completely cancelled and all this is history!

Mori is only in this for THE COLD HARD CASH.

With Olympics at stake, Mori seen as too influential to push aside

Jobs for the boys.

people are getting to be victims

of the internet. This incidence should never have expanded into a mountain high discussion.

Start healing and forgiving. The remarks as made are true and both sides should learn something. But to step down for such remarks??! You are reading too much western paper

I think Mori should resign from his post and suga should appoint women as head of the Olympics that way Suga can show that its govt is determined to give women equal chances as men. Because without equality we cannot survive in this era.

What did he say...... " Women talk too much"

Its true!!! Just like men hate asking for directions. If a woman said something like that would she askes to step down or would it be cast off like nothing?

Welcome to the left Japan. From here on out it's a slippery slope to the anarchy the US has seen .

Hard losing cash.

Which Olympics are you guys talking about? Is it the same one you wanted to be canceled months ago before this scandal started? Let's pretend it's a new demand.

When the 2020 Olympics are finally cancelled will Mori then be in charge of the "Olympics Cancellation" committee for a couple more years?