Tokyo Olympics chief Yoshiro Mori steps down

The head of the Tokyo Olympics organizing committee has resigned after he was criticized for making "inappropriate" remarks about women.
Yoshiro Mori, 83, was quoted as saying women talk too much and that meetings with many female board directors would "take a lot of time."

The remarks set off a firestorm of protest, and Mr. Mori apologized at the time but said he would not resign.

But on Friday, he apologized for his "inappropriate statement."

"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.

It is not immediately clear who will replace Mr. Mori, a former Japanese prime minister. He had initially selected well-known sports administrator Saburo Kawabuchi, 84, to replace him, but this also led to protests.