Strong disagreement against comments by Chief Mori

BPW Japan confirmed strong disagreement against the Chief of Tokyo Olympics Organizing Committee, Yoshiro Mori, for his comments during the JOC's meeting on February 3rd, 2021, and submitted our request for discharge of Chief Mori from his role to the Minister for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games and of State for Gender Equality, Seiko Hashimoto, on February 6th.

Strongly against the comments by Chief Yoshiro Mori!

BPW Japan hereby confirms our strong disagreement against the Chief of Tokyo Olympics Organizing Committee, Yoshiro Mori, for his comments during the JOC's meeting on February 3rd.

Mr Mori clearly lacks in understanding the unconscious biases despite it being a common sense in the modern society, on phrases such as “Women/Men should be like...” or “Being feminine/masculine”, leading to his recent speech.
His views and words are therefore based on gender inequality, but has no idea how disrespectful and inappropriate his words are, which continues to hurt many people who unfortunately hear him.

It is our great concern that an individual as himself is involved as the leading figure of the upcoming Olympics Game, as we strongly believe that gender equality would bring peace not only to Japan, but to the global community.

As this situation has been spotted and the report spread to the entire world, we strongly suggest Chief Mori to resign his role within the Tokyo Olympics Organizing Committee. We also demand him to reflect upon his unconscious biases himself.

In addition, the smirks on the many executive faces of various political parties at the parliament, while the Prime Minister was responding to this issue, have also clarified the complete lack of understanding towards gender issues within our parliament too.
We strongly demand the leader with great understanding and sensitivity to gender equality, to lead our nation in the immediate future possible.

President of National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs of Japan
Masako Hiramatsu

LINK: Request to Minister Seiko Hashimoto to take appropriate action (PDF/116K)