Hiroshi Sasaki: Tokyo Olympics creative chief resigns due to derogatory comment about Naomi Watanabe

Hiroshi Sasaki: Tokyo Olympics creative chief resigns due to derogatory comment about Naomi Watanabe

by

Sasaki, who was the chief creative director for this year’s Games opening and closing ceremonies, said he told a planning group through a group chat that Naomi Watanabe could play a “Olympig” role.

“There was a very inappropriate expression in my ideas and comments,” said Sasaki in a statement released by the Games’ organizers at dawn on Thursday. “I sincerely apologize to her and to the people who were uncomfortable with such content.”

Sasaki said he told Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto on Wednesday night that he was stepping down.

Hashimoto and Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto plan to address the issue at a news conference on Thursday, organizers said.

Sasaki’s resignation came quickly after the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun published his statements on Wednesday.

Last month, Yoshiro Mori resigned as chairman of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee after making a furor with sexist comments by saying that women talk too much.

Mori, 83, a former prime minister, was replaced by the athlete who became politician Hashimoto, who promised to make gender equality a priority at the Games.

Sasaki was appointed head of the creative team in December, while Olympic organizers sought to renew plans for simplified ceremonies after the Tokyo Games were postponed a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Olympics are scheduled from 23 July to 8 August and the Paralympics from 24 August to 5 September.

.Source