When the head of Tokyo's Olympic organizing committee said women talked too much at board meetings, a storm of criticism erupted in Japan, with top athletes and Cabinet ministers condemning his remarks as sexist and archaic.
Yoshiro Mori apologized at a press briefing last week, only to justify the comments in subsequent interviews, inviting further criticism.
Despite the condemnation, the 83-year-old remains insulated within the organization he leads, sources say, with officials fearing that his resignation would imperil the Tokyo Games.