Mori to resign over sexist comments; Kawabuchi, 84, tipped to replace him

Finally a decent move.

As always it took its time... but glad to see a positive outcome.

It is time to give space for younger and more open minded individuals to take over these dinosaurs that are destroying the future and the credibility of Japan.

Better late than never.

Karma.

Yesterday it was …

"He is a walking dictionary of the Olympics and he knows everything about the last eight years," said a senior member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party involved in the Tokyo Olympics, explaining why Mori still enjoyed strong support from government officials.

Mori's strength as the chief of the Tokyo 2020 committee comes from his experience as a prime minister and longtime ruling party powerbroker.

"Things function smoothly thanks to Mr. Mori," the party source said.

Another source, a mid-level employee at the organizing committee, said many felt that only Mori had the kind of clout to call up governors and ministers to pave the way for the postponed Games.

"There is a sense within the organizing committee that we might not be able to do it without the president," the source said.

Today…

RUH ROH…

About time.

And the others in the same meeting who laughed instead of speaking up to him? The others who tried to rationalize all this? Yet, no one could speak up to him when he insulted our mothers, our wives, our daughters and our sisters? He's only a small part of this institutionalized problem in Japan. Good riddance, be gone with you.

A man loses his job because he voiced his views. The death of Freedom of Speech.

*Too little too late *

How is it too little, he's been fired, exactly what you were calling for. What would be enough, publicly flogged on scramble crossing? Sent to a western country to be re-educated by blue haired feminists?.

Time to stop crying and move on now people.

Foot-in-the-mouth Mori just never had the legs to keep up with the momentum of his snowballing scandal. Mori will not be missed.

This is a good thing. If he stays, that will end up completely negate whatever good he did in the past. At least he didn't try the Donald Trump strategy. When Trump said something really stupid like that, he would just say "I was just joking!"

It’s more to do with Toyota and Asahi among other big sponsors speaking out against Mori. Money talks, Mori walks.

TokyoJoeToday 01:14 pm JST

How is it too little, he's been fired, exactly what you were calling for. What would be enough, publicly flogged on scramble crossing? Sent to a western country to be re-educated by blue haired feminists?.

Time to stop crying and move on now people.

Well, I'd have settled for all men to just stop belittling an entire gender with casual sexist remarks, but that ain't gonna happen, is it now.

HimariYamadaToday 01:14 pm JST

A man loses his job because he voiced his views. The death of Freedom of Speech.

A man lost his job because he made sexist remarks that belittled his female colleagues and every other woman he has ever worked with, or will work with, in organizing the Olympics.

Freedom of speech, not freedom from consequences of saying stupid things.

How about putting a younger, former Olympian as the Olympics chief for Japan? Ryoko Tani, Saori Yoshida, Shizuka Arakawa and Naoko Takahashi all come to mind if they decide to go the female route. All have been supporters of the Olympic in one form or another.

Maybe it the turning point in Japan for male dominance. Not.

Anyways, my gfs will have a bye bye Mori party tonight. cheers!

Mori san decision to resign is correct and honorable.

Don't talk too much at your resignation. We've already heard way more than enough.

Hit the road, Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more.

Bye Felisha.

Sayonara.

Salut la compagnie!

I'm sure there won't be enough words to write down in celebration that this foolish jack is now gone. That being said, I hope we will see someone else a lot younger doing he job at the JOC for the next few years. Time to see fresh blood at the top.

guy ,s gone; gonna announce his resignation tomorrow ...

pressure from all sides and from what i,m hearing some women in his family are turning their backs on him...

let,s thank international media for giving it a little push ...

hopefully the first of many steps ( that still need to be taken ) ...

still many “dinosaurs“ roaring out there ...

Wonderful news. Maybe there's still some hope in this world. Now take it a step further by making him return his royal salary which was too high in the first place.

In a free and open society you are free to voice your opinion without fear of "consequences".Just like the posters of the JT are allowed to say anything and everything about Japan

Incorrect on both counts. All opinions are valid and have a right to be heard, but none are without consequence. Especially from people in positions of power and responsibility.

This guy should never have been given this position in the first place. Heck he should never have been PM.

There's a whole section in his English and Japanese Wikipedia page about his gaffes

The first one:

In January 2000, he made a joke about his campaign in the 1969 election: "When I was greeting farmers from my car, they all went into their homes. I felt like I had AIDS.

I hope somebody told this idiot AIDS wasn't even around in 1969.

Good riddance. And close the door on your way out.

I really feel sorry for Mr, Mori. He worked very hard for the Olympics and the Japanese people. How many countless hours and sacrifices did he make for the Olympics and the Japanese people? I wonder if the same people who criticized him can meet the same standard they are setting.

Right decision.

I feel sorry for him. I know what he means. I taked to a women on the phone one time and she talked for 55 out of 60 minutes. He is not a criminal for speaking his mind.

@HimariYamada

One thing is for sure - the last year or so has shown just how many people have no understanding of what “Freedom of Speech” actually is.

It refers to protection from the government prohibiting its citizens from free speech (and has noted limitations). Now, if Mori were arrested and thrown in prison by the Japanese government for his comments, then you can post here about freedoms being violated.

Mori was free to said what he said without government censorship or imprisonment, but private and corporate entities are welcome to respond with consequences.

Here’s a partial list of boundaries to freedom of speech for which the government in the US can limit free, uncensored speech:

libel, slander, obscenity, pornography, sedition, incitement, fighting words, classified information, copyright violation, trade secrets, food labeling......

In Japan, there are limitations as well and the Japanese constitution expressly states that people “shall refrain from any abuse of these freedoms and rights and shall always be responsible for utilizing them for the public welfare.”

He is not a criminal for speaking his mind.

What has he been charged with? When’s the sentencing?

He’s not a criminal, but he is not fit to do the job he was appointed to do. He’s embarrassed a country, further eroded trust in the Olympics and perhaps most significantly for his downfall caused big name sponsors to disassociate themselves.

It's fascinating to see Japan hurtling headlong into modernity once again. The world trend is for the holders of honorary positions to represent their country as it us currently, including the current positions of their governments. What Mori-san did, with his comments, is rely on privilege and seniority, very long enshrined in Japanese culture, to gain some advantage over female JOC members. In so doing, he provoked an international storm of fury directed vis embassies and in the public space over the Internet at Olympics host country Japan. Mori-san badly misjudged the international politics, showing his unreadiness to represent his country in a global forum.

Mori-san was unseated not by public outcry directly, but the judgment of corporate sponsors that his comments had damaged their carefully cultivated global brands -- the same brands they have paid big money to the JOC to promote as corporate sponsors, so there is no discernible general awakening among the Japanese population that Mori-san's attitude towards being a team player in teams that include female members has changed. If Japan broadly speaking respects women as equal citizens under the Constitution (as the Japanese Constitution guarantees), this scandal does not show it.

I really feel sorry for Mr, Mori. He worked very hard for the Olympics and the Japanese people.

He did not work for anyone but himself.

How many countless hours and sacrifices did he make for the Olympics and the Japanese people?

With no less than a two million yen salary per month, yeah, I would sign up too! I don't feel sorry for him in the slightest. You should feel sorry for the Japanese people and yourself, as he was likely paid with everyone's tax money. If anything he was working against the Japanese people, as most didn't want the olympics anymore but he and his buddies insisted they take place.

Finally!

Cancel culture and political correctness are out of control. What a terrible time to be alive for personal freedom lovers.

He won't be missed.

Just like the posters of the JT are allowed to say anything and everything about Japan.

Are you seriously suggesting that those who wax fat on the public purse and who speak in our name should not be held accountable to a higher standard? If anything, they should be far MORE conscious that their words can have real consequences and be on their guard against uttering such outrageous, ill considered remarks. If the penny still hasn’t dropped after a lifetime spent in politics, it never will and he needs to go.

I’m sure that most commentators here would repudiate any suggestion that there is an equivalence between Mori’s intemperate remarks and the JT commentariat’s freedom “to say anything and everything about Japan”.

And so... those women won! and the rest of J women will talk more and more at work, in meetings...

That photo is the image of not the 'Rising Sun' but the 'Setting Sun'.

If the future of Japan is Mori,Aso and Suga it isn't a pleasant picture to look at.

Thank goodness at least one of them is done now.

I am longing for the day when all of the decent hardworking people of Japan can enjoy a worthy 'leadership.'

These entitled old fogies are cancerous.

They are eating Japan from the inside out.

i hope the electorate will take note and discover that they really don't have to vote for the LDP every single time.

A man loses his job because he voiced his views. The death of Freedom of Speech.

no a man with a chauvinistic mentality of the 1950s, insults J women who make up the majority of the population in 2021. yeah J women are J men equal in both rights and voting power, yes freedom of speech. J women and men have spoken and they reject Mori's ideology, now hes gone. got to love democracy hey

It seems they are quite effective, too, since Mr. Mori has resigned.

You couldn't be more wrong, he resigned because it is an international issue and he has had pressure from the IOC and western media. If this was a Japanese internal issue he would be still in position.

You couldn't be more wrong, he resigned because it is an international issue and he has had pressure from the IOC and western media. If this was a Japanese internal issue he would be still in position.

No. He resigned because of sponsors bailing.

awful conservative patriarchal society but bring your feminist ideology here was it for the goal of changing and improving Japan? Helping all the poor Japanese ladies in distress.

actually it started the day after WW2 ended, Japan adopted free democratic principles also joined the united nations promising equal rights and treatment of both men and women, it taken 80yrs but things are slowly changing for the better. if youre a man and cant stand equal rights with women the I suggest you do move to Iran or Saudi Arabia

A bit of a surprise, but international pressure and embarrassment often DOES work; and make no mistake, had there not been he would not even consider resigning or be pressured to do so. I doubt he'll apologize, though, except perhaps to say, "I'm sorry my comment was misunderstood and people have taken it this far".

In any case, good riddance. Next step is to cancel the Games.

the new guy is 84(!) years old (O_O) (one year older(!))

i had to pinch myself in the face ... ...

welcome to Japan

So he's gone then. I think there's only one thing to say.

負けると分かっていた

(I knew he would lose)

(Those are Mori's own words, which he directed Japan's Olympic ice skaters, especially Mao Asada, when they didn't win an Olympic gold)

@Desert Tortoise/AntiqueSaving

Numan wrote:

Mori is the logical "Fall Guy" for cancelling the Olympics! Old and Done!

https://japantoday.com/category/politics/update-1-tokyo-governor-says-olympics-facing-'major-issue'-after-mori's-sexist-remarks

I told you what was going to happen!

@Desert Tortoise wrote:

I am saying your statement is nothing more than a conspiracy theory not supported by any fact. In fact it is probably an outright lie. Prove me wrong with verifiable facts from reputable sources.

LOL! What happened? I thought you said that I was lying!

I actually felt sorry for him for a minute when I read the headline.

But, then I thought of all of the women in Japan who are humiliated during their lives and made to think less of themselves by people who think, speak, and act like Mr. Mori.

Then I thought of all of the women whose lives and careers are ruined by people like Mr. Mori.

Then I though of the little girls who give up on their dreams, or who won't dream big because of people like Mr. Mori.

Glad he's gone.

Cancel culture and political correctness are out of control. What a terrible time to be alive for personal freedom lovers.

For the 4,999,999th time, you cannot speak free of consequences when you hurt actual people and deprive them of the right to be treated as equals. Is that so difficult to understand? Looks like I have seen too many deplorables posting around here.

When words are used as means to hurt others, you have to pay the consequences. It may sound like cancel culture to you, but I call it consequence culture because words matter.

You couldn't be more wrong, he resigned because it is an international issue and he has had pressure from the IOC and western media. If this was a Japanese internal issue he would be still in position.

The Olympics is a global issue? Who would’ve thunk it...

83 years old to 84 years old?! One step forward!

Good riddance to the old fool

if youre a man and cant stand equal rights with women the I suggest you do move to Iran or Saudi Arabia

Or in some parts of Eastern Europe and Russia. I'm personally happy to call such people as deplorables raised by horrible parents with horrible values.

it’s not cancel culture. It’s consequences culture. And it long past due.

To be replaced by a callow youth.

Yeah, he is 83 years old, but if he was doing a very good job with what he was hired for, I don't see any reason for him to resign. It is amazing how his entire career is reduced to a few unpopular comments. He did make a public apology.

A man loses his job because he voiced his views. The death of Freedom of Speech.

So if he said "I think women really belong in the kitchen, not on the track" You would be ok with that too?

I feel sorry for him. I know what he means. I taked to a women on the phone one time and she talked for 55 out of 60 minutes. He is not a criminal for speaking his mind.

But do you really think it’s because she’s a women that she talks too much? Men can talk just as much. I had to sit and listen to an old guy talk for more than an hour straight. It was related to work otherwise I would have got up and left.

It depends on the person not the gender of the person.

former Japan Football Association president and mayor of the Olympics village, Saburo Kawabuchi, 84, would replace Mori.

This is so Japan.

This scandal springs from the problematic gender views of an 83 year old man coupled with a seniority system based on age which ensures that old men like him are always the ones in positions of power.

So what do they do to solve that? Find an even older man to replace him of course.

Fresh thinking!

Saburo Kawabuchi, 84

For the 4,999,999th time, you cannot speak free of consequences when you hurt actual people and deprive them of the right to be treated as equals. Is that so difficult to understand? Looks like I have seen too many deplorables posting around here.

So, you cannot be critical of anybody without looking at them as unequal? I just want to understand the unwritten rules.

At 83 years old Mori was clearly not experienced enough for his posting. Luckily the new guy is 84. He ought to know better.

Saburo Kawabuchi, 84, would replace Mori

All the respect for elderly and their lifelong wisdom.

But replacing a 83 year old for a 84 year old?

This is beyond ridiculous. No one at that age will have the energy to adapt to quick changes, be innovative, creative, etc.

It will only be about seniority, hierarchies and protect the interest of big companies, to secure high paying roles for family and friends.

Cannot see a bright future ahead for this great country that is Japan, very unfortunately.

So he will resign, and an even older dinosaur will take his place! Welcome to Japan and the old boy's club. It happens in every industry here. When will they move into the 21st century?

people here clearly do not know who Kawabuchi is. You will miss Mori eithin a month from now

Haha, all the talk of youth and a female replacement on this forum then Mori being replaced by an even older 84 year old Japanese guy.

Only in Japan can you replace a sexist 83 year old with...someone older.

I understand that you need someone 'special' to head the Olympic Organizing Committee, but talk about failing to grasp a prime opportunity. What a totally depressing place this is at times.

No. He resigned because of sponsors bailing.

No. No sponsors 'bailed'. Toyota expressed dissapointment and didn't even call for his resignation. Is your connection to reality a little bit distant bobby?.

Glad cancel culture has come to Japan, about time too! It's past time speech is regulated to prevent discrimination

if youre a man and cant stand equal rights with women the I suggest you do move to Iran or Saudi Arabia.

I am someone who chose to emigrate to Japan and is not stupid enough to try and bring my ideologies and try and force them onto the Japanese. I understand I have no right to expect Japan to change for me and have no intention of trying to do so regardless of how morally superior I may think I am.

Bye! We'll miss you!

/s

How speedy... if they had sought for replacement five minutes longer they certainly would have found also an ojiji over 110 years old....lol

Poor old Mori was just too young and inexperienced. But at the tender age of 84, is Kawabuchi ready for such an important job?

Id like to have seen the ghost of Noboru Takeshita get the nod. He was ready.

if youre a man and cant stand equal rights with women the I suggest you do move to Iran or Saudi Arabia.

You earlier also suggested women move there too. Bit confused?

Replacing Mori with Kawabuchi, this is too funny. It's both deeply comical and utterly, utterly pathetic at the same time, an octogenarian version of pass the poisoned chalice. Just go away forever Tokyo Olympics, you make me puke.

They couldn't have found anyone at all in the country under 60 of an age that could actually add value here..?

Funny how many people here hate discrimination based on sex but are fine with it based on age. Kawabuchi may be 84, but he's not a halfwit like his soon-to-be predecessor.

billygonzoid - I'm all for giving the elderly a voice in things, but perhaps those who need their food mushed up into manageable bites have more important things to worry about than the gargantuan task of organizing international events.

Obviously they make an a mistake with the youthful Mori at 83, so are bringing in an 84 years old.

Saburo Kawabuchi, 84, still a merit free zone, a seniority choice replacement.

The 83 year-old Mori is finally handing his baton over to an 84 year-old geezer for the last leg of the sprint. Lucky for Kawabuchi, his legs should be able to carry him over the deceptively short distance to the Tokyo Olympics finishing line looming on the horizon of the very near future.

84

The times they are changing?

Oh wait, another fossil alive at the 1940 olympic bid as replacement.

No youth to be trusted with this ancient garden affairs.

I think this proves the Olympics are going ahead.

This'll end well.

Seems the main qualification for this job it to be an octogenarian with foot-in-mouth disease.

You earlier also suggested women move there too. Bit confused?

This was a quote from someone earlier, not my words. I suggested the lady whose hobby was to move to conservative countries and complain about them being conservative whilst trying to convert them to feminism try Saudis Arabia next once she fixed Japan. Not confusing.

Continuity - he has been involved with the preparation of the games; and one of the members of the Olympic Organizing Committee, the only body which could fire him.

Seemingly clean too, not involved with the bid; nor the The Jigoro Kano Memorial International Sport Institute, established in 2009 and run by Mori, which received around 130,000,000 JPYen from the Tokyo OC towards the Olympic bid, and suddenly closed down in December 2020.

Saburo Kawabuchi, 84

This committee is a retirement home

“Mori would be replaced by former Japan Football Association president and mayor of the Olympic village, Saburo Kawabuchi, 84.”

replace a fossil with a dinosaur??? Oh Japan

And another OB (84) steps in and replaces Mori...sheesh!

I think this proves the Olympics are going ahead.

Some Japanese seem to think it means they are probably already off. Kawabuchi is just a fall guy.

By the way, Kawabuchi is on the record for speaking in favour of taibatsu, corporal punishment by sports coaches, and making the usual LDP "get over it" comments about Korea.

In some ways, I do have a little sympathy for him, he was born, raised and had his hayday in a different era. The product of a different generation.

When I was young sometimes I would chuckle at some of the things that my grandparents would come out with. With modern technology there is no room for this kind of error in such a position.

If he had have just admitted attitude was not conjusive for the world of 2021, apologised, maybe offered to resign then the matter might have blown over.

A wise person knows when they have had their day, and it's time to step aside.

I suggested the lady whose hobby was to move to conservative countries and complain about them being conservative whilst trying to convert them to feminism try Saudis Arabia next once she fixed Japan. Not confusing.

But you don’t appear to believe in supporting equal rights. Why would you now suggest someone try moving to Saudi Arabia? Only feminists or a lady can support gender equality? Like it or leave it?

It’s a very confusing message you are fumbling to express.

Out with the old in with the old!

Horaaaa

Nobody is indispensable.

Current and next in line sexists beware

But at the tender age of 84, is Kawabuchi ready for such an important job?

Public opinions may split over his character although his proven records and contributions to Japan's sport culture are undeniably outstanding. Kawabuchi could become "another Mori" in more upgraded form, a target of ojin-purge. He may have a bomb.

Kawabuchi has been criticized about his abuse of power and misogyny though most have remains at allegation levels or falsely charged.

Personally I wouldn't oppose it if he really succeeds Mori. But also think over alternative candidates and careful clearance checks before the official appointment.

It's good that Mori will be replaced. His mouth has been a walking disaster since 2000. I just hope that Kawabuchi will still be around by the time the Tokyo Olympics are actually happen.

Some posters are teasing Kawabuchi's age and ojin background. I don't get why they are tolerant of sheer ageism while at the same time being sensitive and critical of gender-prejudice and discrimination.

It's Mori's own problem which we shouldn't generalize to anyone, any Japanese in his age cohort. Yes, I admit there is some tendency related to age. But that's pretty identical as to how Mori addressed in the conference, "Women tend to talk longer..."

Note that we all is destined to become aged over time. Un inevitable fact.

...however, it may also have been a conscious statement on his part, so that he can leave the sinking ship...

83 to 84? The start of a geriatric baton race?

It's Mori's own problem which we shouldn't generalize to anyone, any Japanese in his age cohort. Yes, I admit there is some tendency related to age. But that's pretty identical as to how Mori addressed in the conference, "Women tend to talk longer..."

Many, many years ago when I first arrived in Japan, my friends parants and grsndparents would generslise and sterotype me. But rather than get offended by this, I took it on the chin, and gently explained the true situation. I knew that it was not malicious.

Westerner's tend to fo this, Westerner's tend to think that........

I was just something different, being a green eyed blond in a tiny rural Japanese village of less than 600 people.

Some posters are teasing Kawabuchi's age and ojin background. I don't get why they are tolerant of sheer ageism while at the same time being sensitive and critical of gender-prejudice and discrimination.

If anything this decision discriminates against younger people who are more than capable of doing the job.

I doubt they've interviewed for the job - they just selected the next most connected / powerful member of the political/connected elite! It's not ageist to criticize that!

Well, look at it this way - at least they didn't hire someone over 100 years old.

Another male dinosaur to replace the previous male dinosaur. The senior executive board of the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games does not have one woman amongst its eleven members; not one. on the committee. The committee continues to be completely out of touch with reality.

https://tokyo2020.org/en/organising-committee/officer/

It was an opportunity to have some fresh blood. But no, this is Japan. At least, Kawabuchi himself is a true sport-man

I'm a female and what that old codger Mori said doesn't bother me a jot! Cut him some slack, people! He is old and out of touch. In fact I'm way more pissed off about men identifying as women competing in women's sports.

The herd-mentality bullying against Mori-san has been hard to watch. May he peacefully live out his years.

Wake up people.

After 8 years of running this thing, just before his moment of glory, does anyone think Mori would really agree to step down.

The only reason he has stepped down is because the Olympics are not happening and he does not want to be the one to break the news.

He can now sit back, relax and when the inevitable happens, say it was nothing to do with him.

this is the comment #144 and increasing.

we are witnessing history!!

Funny how many people here hate discrimination based on sex but are fine with it based on age. 

And can people stop being ageist?

”Young people are the problem”

You said that.

good to see they replaced him with some young blood ;)

I'm a female and what that old codger Mori said doesn't bother me a jot! Cut him some slack, people! He is old and out of touch. In fact I'm way more pissed off about men identifying as women competing in women's sports.

Agree with your comments about Mori. Cut him some slachk. As for women competimg in women's sports - but isn't that equal rights?

I think the rules need to be changed about age. Find somebody age 90 or older next time.

Is it ageism to point out that an 84-year-old man may not be the best choice as a replacement?

I hope they have another generic replacement lined up as this one may not make it that long ...

The sources, who have knowledge of the matter, said Mori would be replaced by former Japan Football Association president and mayor of the Olympic village, Saburo Kawabuchi.

Japanese sources are saying that Kawabuchi has been selected (shimei) by Mori himself.

The guy who resigns is selecting his successor! It's like North Korea.

Maybe they can fin someone in their late 90s. And that would be geriatric, not generic.

Cancel culture wins again. Lesson to everyone with a job - stick with newspeak.

Fun fact:

Would a woman receive the same punishment, the same scrutiny and media attention for saying Men Talk too much?

Nope. Not in this world. Not in 2021.

In this day and age....,,

Is it ageism to point out that an 84-year-old man may not be the best choice as a replacement?

It would if you believed in logic. But not if you believe that discrimination is warranted because of the oppressor vs oppressed narrative.

Wow! Didn't expect this. Wonder if his downfall will rally the nation towards the games! Never a dull moment in these fast times thats for sure !

@noriahojanen

Tell me what 84 year olds are working at your company getting 2 million yen salary a month?

Exactly.,,,

Today is a victory for equality and women. For every discriminatory insult Mori uttered, there are thousands of discriminatory acts conducted against women in Japan that will never be made public. Public pressure is giving voice to the many women who are consistently overlooked, demeaned, undermined, and insulted simply for being a woman. And let this be a lesson to us all — never let a person hold society hostage because they are so important that discrimination goes unaccounted for. We need to defend our principles, less we lose our souls.

Cancel culture wins again. Lesson to everyone with a job - stick with newspeak.

There are 2 very large myths about ‘cancel culture’; that it is a recent phenomenon and that it exists primarily on the left.

To believe this is against both common sense and empirical evidence.

It always confounds me how those here on the right side of things quote 1984 and ‘newspeak’, imagining themselves as Winston. Yet at the same time they bandy around newspeak phrases like ‘cancel culture’ and ‘Big ____’, follow the screaming heads on Fox and fight towards totalitarianism, not against it.

Really baffling.

Good Outcome? This is a remark from a 77 year young fellow. Replace one old turtle with another older turtle. Will that really do the trick? The woman in Japan is truly a gift to overall society and on the rise for a Lady PM ?

Quite frankly, the only thing surprising about this whole affair is that the buffoon lasted this long before saying something that did him in.

Whats not surprising is the only people who are outraged are those who do it as a lifestyle choice; Western liberals.

It's my opinion that the vast majority of Japanese themselves don't care in the least what he said. They have more important priorities in life.

REasonandWisdomNippon: "Would a woman receive the same punishment, the same scrutiny and media attention for saying Men Talk too much?"

Defensive much? It's usually those types that are the biggest offenders. And in any case, you're seriously kidding... didn't a female politician just get sued by a mayor who committed sexual assault because she pointed it out? You can't even BEGIN to compare the inequality and how badly society is stacked against wisdom... but here you are deflecting and protecting the offenders.

In some ways I feel sorry for Mori-san's generation. I was indoctrinated harshly in university about how to speak to maintain political correctness so I am always on guard. However, the generations before me have to learn it on the fly the hard way.

To a point, but he’s in a high profile position. He’s not spouting off in a hostess bar here. If you want the high profile positions ( and he’s been in this game a long time ), you’ve got to accept the consequences for what isn’t regarded as acceptable in this climate. If you can’t adjust to the climate, tough.

Limited sympathy for him in that regard, but I must admit seeing what look like chemotherapy marks on his hands made me feel a bit sad. I don’t think he’s got too many years left and it’s a pity his career will end like this.

Imo the problem lies in the implication of what he said and his reaction when questioned about it. He made no attempt to clarify or be politically correct in the slightest and felt firmly safe in his position at the top.

Which obviously was not the case.

Tokyo Governor Koike put the nail on the coffin by boycotting the meeting with Mori.

There are 2 very large myths about ‘cancel culture’; that it is a recent phenomenon and that it exists primarily on the left.

No, cancel culture is not a recent phenomenon at all. Shaming and shunning have always been a fixture of human existence. The modern incantation of cancel culture is tied directly to politics and the use of political power beginning with Lenin’s purges and later Mao’s Cultural Revolution. The Left are masters of cancel culture. It’s part of their handbook, Rules for Radicals. “Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it

It always confounds me how those here on the right side of things quote 1984 and ‘newspeak’, imagining themselves as Winston. 

Cancel culture is the enforcement of newspeak by Big Brother - the ever watchful eye on the (now) digital screen. It is Ingsoc in form and function. Mori was cancelled by the pervasive eye of the Orwellian authority that scans society looking for nails sticking up that need to be hammered down. The parallels with 1984 are uncanny.

cancel culture is not a recent phenomenon at all. Shaming and shunning have always been a fixture of human existence.

The far-right has mastered it over the past two decades. Unfortunately, that has led to a very predictble uprising of far-left cancel culture to push back. Both sides heavily criticize the other, while being entirely clueless that they are exactly the same, just pushing a different extremist ideology.

Both extremes are complete losers, and useless to society as a whole.

The far-right has mastered it over the past two decades. 

Through what system has the right used to silence those who disagree with them the past two decades? No one on the right is even putting up much of a fight to defend Mori much less grant that he has a right to freedom of speech. They know they will be next on the cancellation list. When Mao’s red book carrying acolytes located an intellectual that wasn’t parroting the party line they were attacked by an outraged mob of indoctrinated true believers who were by no means tolerant of dissenting points of view. Any minor transgression was an affront that brought forth harsh condemnation and punishment. No one dared to come out of hiding to speak in defense of the accused. It was suicidal to their career.

Kawabuchi, 84, to replace......Noooooooooo! replacing another dinosaur with another donosaur? these guys needs to be retired, put out to pasture, attending veg plots at home. they need to be replaced with someone around 40's

Things have to change in Japan.

Boo hoo to those calling this cancel culture. Words have meaning and consequences. He isn't there to just represent men or those men who agree with him. He's there to represent men and women and if he can't do that without unnecessarily insulting at least half of those people, then he should resign. Do you want someone representing you if you have no faith in their ability to do that well, if they seem completely biased against you?

And when it comes to companies pulling spokespeople or ads, that's capitalism at it's finest so I can't imagine why any conservative would object. Companies are there to make money and if they feel they're going to lose money because of something someone associated with the company said or did, then they'd be fools to to not do anything and if they have shareholders, they'd also be irresponsible for not looking out for them.

There's a fairly active Twitter thread claiming Kawabuchi is just another far right winger and revisionist who has offended people, citing his past comments, and he's no different, maybe even worse than Mori.

84 is the average life expectancy of Japanese men. I guess the idea is to give these guys a final task before shuffling off the mortal coil.

What’s with this old codger mentality !?

Doesn’t Japan have anyone younger & more vibrant who could do the job ?

It’s called consequences, not cancellation.

Well this has brought out the Olympic spirit—this comment section is the Ageism Olympics. If you all were espousing sexism, mods would have kicked you all off. But Ageist comments are just fine. The irony here is you’ll all be 84 all too soon, with spry minds, and carping about the young being prejudiced against you only because of age.

And can people stop being ageist?

Agreed, but this is the JT comments section. Lots of folk here haven't realized they'll be old, soon enough.

Not that age can excuse his dense comments. But talk of cancel culture is the latest, lol, weapon that the far right have in their arsenal.

When, as has been pointed out, it's consequence culture. Say something dense and offensive and be man enough to deal with the consequences of said comments.

Would a woman receive the same punishment, the same scrutiny and media attention for saying Men Talk too much?

Nope. Not in this world. Not in 2021.

Ah, of course. It's men who are the real victims.

Won't someone think of the rich ex Prime Ministers and CEOs, please?

Boo hoo.

Wow, both men are over 80 years old! In the U.S., Feinstein is 87, Pelosi is 80, and Biden is 78. Nothing against older people, but it prevents younger people from moving up.

Should let him stay, so he can take the blame when the Olympics is inevitably cancelled.

Mori would be replaced by former Japan Football Association president and mayor of the Olympic village, Saburo Kawabuchi.

Kawabuchi, 84, represented Japan in soccer at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and helped Japan co-host the 2002 FIFA World Cup with South Korea.

Ahhh, the next scapegoat enters the picture. So when the 2021 Tokyo Olympics fail, they can blame this guy on it. Good luck, Saburo.

Well, too bad Mori. You could've been THAT guy. All you had to do was sit there, keep your mouth shut, and sleep just like any other Diet member in a meeting. You would've had your payoff and roll into the sunset forever. But, no. You had to open your mouth.

Woulda coulda shoulda, Mori. Oh well............

I like how we're not supposed to impose our Western values on people of color from other cultures.

Unless, of course, the person of color from another culture goes past the point of no return blasphemies the Holy Church of White Liberal Wokeafarianism...

Then we meet in front of the organic health food co-cop with our tar, feathers, and pitchforks!

The fact that Japan's Olympic hosting aspirations ever rested on this (or any other) octogenarian is dubious at best.