Opinion surveys show little support among the Japanese public for staging a major global sports event during a deadly pandemic in a country that only began its vaccine roll out Wednesday.
While Hashimoto came under a shadow after allegations she had sexually harassed a popular male ice skater in 2014, she went on to be appointed to the cabinet in 2019.
From Seika to Seiko
Hashimoto was born to a farming family on the northern island of Hokkaido in October 1964, five days before the opening of the last Japanese summer Olympics. Her father named her Seiko, from the Japanese word for the Olympic flame, “seika.”
Olympian takes over stalled Tokyo games
Isabel Reynolds, Bloomberg
FacebookTwitterEmail 3
1of3Seiko Hashimoto, member of the House of Councillors and the Liberal Democratic Party, speaks during the party s annual convention in Tokyo on Feb. 10, 2019.Bloomberg photo by Kiyoshi OtaShow MoreShow Less
2of3Seiko Hashimoto, member of the House of Councillors and the Liberal Democratic Party, speaks during the party s annual convention in Tokyo on Feb. 10, 2019.Bloomberg photo by Kiyoshi OtaShow MoreShow Less
3of3
The Tokyo Olympics organizing committee appointed one of Japan s most-celebrated female Olympians as its new chief, after her predecessor stepped down over his sexist remarks.
Seiko Hashimoto a seven-time Olympian who was later elected to parliament five times as a member for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party was named Thursday to the post at a Tokyo 2020 board meeting. Hashimoto earlier in the day resigned from her positions as minister for the Olympics
Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori resigned as the chief of the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee after he made sexist comments that added more troubles to the virus-delayed Olympics. Mori, 83, announced.
Tokyo Olympics chief resigns for inappropriate comments about women
Shiho Takezawa and Isabel Reynolds, Bloomberg
Feb. 12, 2021
FacebookTwitterEmail
Saburo Kawabuchi in 2017.Bloomberg photo by Kiyoshi Ota.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori resigned as the chief of the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee after he made sexist comments that added more troubles to the virus-delayed Olympics.
Mori, 83, announced he was stepping down at an emergency meeting of the group held Friday, after he called his remarks inappropriate, and said he cannot be a hindrance to Olympics preparations.
The gaffe-prone former premier touched off a global backlash, a rare rebuke from the International Olympic Committee and criticism from crucial sponsors such as Toyota Motor Corp. after making derogatory remarks this month about women, including saying they talk too much in meetings.
Tokyo Olympics Sponsors Revolt Over Chiefâs Sexist Remarks
This content was published on February 10, 2021 - 07:18
February 10, 2021 - 07:18
(Bloomberg) Japanâs ambition to hold a successful Olympic Games in the face of the pandemic looks increasingly imperiled, after a top officialâs sexist remarks undercut public support and sparked rare criticism from sponsors.
With less than six months to go until the planned opening ceremony on July 23, Japan is pressing ahead with an event meant to draw attention back to an Asian power often overshadowed by China. But anger is simmering over Yoshiro Mori, the 83-year-old head of the organizing committee, who last week publicly disparaged women for talking too much.