Over 50 participants, some taking part online, were briefed on a revision of rules to choose new executives in June and the aim to have women make up at least 40 percent of board members.

Mori spoke as the meeting drew to a close. He referred to an increasing number of female board members at the Japan Rugby Football Union, where he has long served as head.

He said meetings take twice as long as they used to because women have a strong sense of rivalry.

He said if one member raises her hand to speak, others probably think they need to talk, too, and so everyone says something.

None of the participants responded to Mori's comments.

Mizoguchi Noriko, a silver medalist of the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, now serves as councillor of the All Japan Judo Federation.

She posted a message online, saying she believes the capabilities of the chairperson, rather than the women taking part, are to blame for prolonged meetings.

She called on Mori to work to eradicate gender bias, realize the spirit of Olympism and set an example for sport governance as the head of the organizing committee.