Yoshiro Mori (C), president of Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, speaks during a joint press conference between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Tokyo 2020 on Sept. 25, 2020.Photo:Xinhua

Tokyo Olympics chief Yoshiro Mori apologized but refused to resign on Thursday after making sexist remarks that prompted outrage in Japan.

Mori's comments, in which he said women speak too much in meetings, are the latest headache for organizers already battling public disquiet about the pandemic-postponed Games.

The 83-year-old former prime minister triggered further criticism when he admitted "I don't speak to women much" in a hastily organized press conference called to make his apology.

And while Mori said his initial remarks were "inappropriate" he became defensive when questioned, insisting he had heard complaints that women speak at length.

Mori is reported to have said Wednesday that "board of directors meetings with many women take a lot of time," according to the Asahi Shimbun daily.

"When you increase the number of female executive members, if their speaking time isn't restricted to a certain extent, they have difficulty finishing, which is annoying," he was quoted as saying.

Mori, who is known for his gaffes, did not dispute the report and told reporters that he wanted to "retract" his sexist comments.

"What I said... went against the spirit of the Olympics and Paralympics, and I recognize that it was inappropriate," he said.

But he added that he was "not thinking about resigning" and insisted he was responding to comments he had heard about women speaking for too long.

The comments sparked a furious reaction in Japan, with the phrases "enough already," "misogyny" and "we demand Yoshiro Mori resigns" all trending on Twitter.

AFP