Feb. 4 (UPI) -- The top Japanese official on the Tokyo Olympics organizing committee is under fire for remarks about women he made during meetings.
Yoshiro Mori, a former prime minister, apologized Thursday after politicians condemned him amid calls for his resignation, The Guardian reported.
Mori said he is "deeply remorseful" and that his comments were "inappropriate." He said he has no plans to resign.
"I have been working hard and devoted myself to helping [the Tokyo Olympics] for seven years. I will not be stepping down," Mori said, according to the report.
The official said this week during a meeting of the Japanese Olympic Committee that women are "talkative" and needlessly drag out discussions with their chatter. Meeting participants were exchanging views on ways to increase the percentage of women representatives on the committee.
"If we are to increase the number of women, we must also regulate the amount of time given," Mori had said.
Mori said women have a "strong sense of competition," and that if one woman raises her hand, everyone wants to speak.
The Japanese politician, who has a history of making disparaging remarks about women, made headlines during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, when he spoke derogatorily of Japanese figure skating champion Mao Asada.
"That girl, she's always falling at critical moments," Mori had said.
Mori, 83, is a supporter of the current administration of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who assumed office in September.
