Yoshiro Mori steps down over sexism row

BBC
Feb 12 Friday
Yoshiro Mori: Tokyo Olympics chief steps down over sexism row
東京オリンピック組織委員会会長の森喜朗　性差別の論争を巻き起こし辞任

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56020674

The head of the Tokyo Olympics organising committee has resigned after he was criticised for making "inappropriate" remarks about women.

東京オリンピック組織委員会会長は，女性についての”不適切”な発言により批判を浴び，会長職を辞任した。

"What is important is to hold the Olympics from July. It must not be the case that my presence becomes an obstacle to that," he said at a special committee meeting on Friday, where he also announced his resignation.

金曜日に開かれた特別委員会で森氏は辞任を表明し，
「オリンピックを７月から開催するのが何よりも大切。私がいること（＝私の存在）が開催の支障になるようなことがあってはならない。」と述べた。

The resignation came as pressure mounted on him over the past week. Major sponsors came forward to criticise his comments, including Toyota, one of the biggest Olympic backers.

彼の辞任はその前の一週間に受けた圧力によるものである。最大のスポンサーであるトヨタをはじめとした東京オリンピックの主要スポンサーらも，彼の発言に対し批判的な姿勢を示している。

The committee board currently has 24 members, five of whom are women. In 2019, the committee - which is responsible for selecting Japanese Olympians - set itself a goal of increasing the number of female board directors to 40%.

組織委は現在24名から構成されており，そのうち5名が女性である。オリンピック日本人選手の選考の責任をもつ組織委は女性理事の割合を全体の40％に引き上げることを目標に掲げている。

Mr Mori is known in the country for a string of gaffes and undiplomatic statements made while in office from 2000 to 2001.

森氏は日本では2000年から2001年の首相在職中に一連の失言･失態を犯したことで知られている。

VOA
Tokyo Olympics to Pick Mori Replacement; Is a Woman Likely?
https://www.voanews.com/arts-culture/tokyo-olympics-pick-mori-replacement-woman-likely

The 83-year-old former prime minister was forced to step down last week after making demeaning remarks about women.

83歳の前首相は女性についての差別的発言の後，（東京オリンピック組織委員会会長職の）辞任に追い込まれた。

Basically, he said they talk too much.

要するに，彼は女性は話が長すぎると発言したのだ。

There is pressure to name a woman to replace Mori. But don't bet on it happening with the Olympics opening in just over five months. Mori tried last week to work behind the scenes to appoint 84-year-old Saburo Kawabuchi, the former head of the governing body of Japanese soccer. Public opinion and social media quickly pushed back against the move and Kawabuchi withdrew from consideration.

森氏の後任には女性を指名すべきという（社会的）圧がある。

Japan ranks 121st out of 153 in terms of gender equality in a report done by the World Economic Forum, and the "old boy network" remains stronger in Japan than in most developed countries.

世界経済フォーラムのレポートによると，日本は性別の平等の観点では153カ国中121位である。さらに他のほとんどの先進国と比べ”old boy network”が強く残っている国でもある。

Q: Did Mori's comments do any real damage to the Olympics?

森氏の発言はオリンピックに実際にダメージを与えたか？

A: In terms of operation, probably not. Mori surely helped work out many of the political deals to push through funding.
運営の面でのダメージは恐らくない。森氏はを資金繰りを通すための数々の政治的交渉で確実に活躍した。

But the reputation of Japan and the Olympics took a hit. The International Olympic Committee has bragged about the strides in has made in gender equality over the past two decades — on the field and on its boards. Japan, not so much. This has not helped public opinion. Just over 80% in polls in Japan say the Olympics should be canceled or postponed again.
しかし日本やオリンピックの世評は大きなダメージを受けた。