Torch Relay Runner Withdraws Over Mori Remark

Torch relay runner withdraws over Mori remark

A runner for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch relay has withdrawn from the event over an apparently sexist remark by the head of the Games' organizing committee, Mori Yoshiro.

On Tuesday, Tsubokura Shinji, who's 57, received an email from the committee apologizing for Mori's remark. Tsubokura sent a reply saying he will not take part in the relay.

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Tokyo Reports 491 New Coronavirus Cases Wednesday

Tokyo reports 491 new coronavirus cases Wednesday

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported 491 new coronavirus infections in the capital on Wednesday. The daily tally has been below 500 for four days in a row.

A total of 105,024 people have tested positive for the virus in Tokyo since the pandemic began.

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20th Memorial Service Held For Ehime Maru Victims

20th memorial service held for Ehime Maru victims

A memorial service has been held to mark the 20th anniversary of the sinking of a Japanese fisheries school training vessel off Hawaii by a US navy nuclear submarine.

The USS Greeneville struck the Ehime Maru on February 10, 2001, Japan time. The ship belonged to the Uwajima Fisheries High School in Ehime Prefecture, western Japan. Nine people died, including students and teachers.

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Ceremony Held In Hawaii For Ehime Maru Victims

Ceremony held in Hawaii for Ehime Maru victims

A memorial ceremony has been held in Hawaii to mark the 20th anniversary of a maritime accident involving a Japanese high school training boat and a US navy nuclear submarine.

The Ehime Maru sank off Hawaii after it was struck by the USS Greeneville on February 9, 2001, local time. The training boat belonged to Uwajima Fisheries High School. Nine people died, including students and others.

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State Of Emergency May Stay For Tokyo, Osaka Areas

State of emergency may stay for Tokyo, Osaka areas

The Japanese government is leaning toward the view that it will be difficult to lift the state of emergency for the Tokyo metropolitan area and the Kansai region for the time being. This is in light of the coronavirus infection situation and governors' opinions.

The state of emergency declaration was set to end on Sunday, but it was extended for another month for Tokyo, Osaka and eight other prefectures.

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Ruling, Opposition Camps At Odds Over Mori Remarks

Ruling, opposition camps at odds over Mori remarks

Japan's ruling and opposition camps remain at odds over recent remarks by the head of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games organizing committee, which were criticized as sexist.

Mori Yoshiro said at a Japanese Olympic Committee meeting last week that board meetings with women tend to drag on because they talk too much. He later retracted the remarks and apologized.

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Imperial Couple To Make Online Visit To Tohoku

Imperial couple to make online visit to Tohoku

Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are expected to make online visits to three prefectures hit hard by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Sources told NHK that the couple is scheduled to meet people in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures via video link later this month and next month.

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Coast Guard Investigates Submarine Collision

Coast Guard investigates submarine collision

The Japan Coast Guard is investigating the cause of a collision between a Maritime Self-Defense Force submarine and a cargo ship off the coast of western Japan.

The submarine Souryu and the bulk carrier Ocean Artemis collided about 50 kilometers off Kochi Prefecture on Monday. Three of the submarine crew suffered minor injuries.

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Japan, Australia Fm Discuss Myanmar

Japan, Australia FM discuss Myanmar

The foreign ministers of Japan and Australia have agreed to urge Myanmar's military to release the country's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other people who have been detained since a coup last week.

Japan's Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu and his Australian counterpart Marise Payne talked for about 40 minutes by telephone on Tuesday, at the request of the Australian side.

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Ex - Olympian: Treatment Of Mori Should Be Discussed

Ex-Olympian: Treatment of Mori should be discussed

Former Japanese Olympic athlete Tamesue Dai has called for the Tokyo Games organizing committee to discuss how to deal with its president Mori Yoshiro over his remarks, which were criticized as sexist.

Tamesue, a three-time Olympic hurdler, wrote on his website that silence is regarded as approval, and that he deeply reflected on his failure to express his opinion.

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Msdf Chief: Losing Communication Big Problem

MSDF chief: Losing communication big problem

The head of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force has expressed concern that one of its submarines was unable to report a collision with a commercial vessel for nearly three and a half hours after the accident.

The submarine Souryu and the cargo ship collided off Kochi Prefecture in western Japan on Monday. The submarine's communications equipment was damaged, causing the delay in reporting the incident. The vessel had to navigate to where it could use mobile phones.

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Tokyo Games Organizers Apologize To Sponsors

Tokyo Games organizers apologize to sponsors

The Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games organizing committee has apologized to the event's sponsors over remarks made by its president Mori Yoshiro that have been criticized as sexist.

The committee on Monday held an online meeting for about 80 sponsors during which it apologized for the comments.

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Joc Chief: Mori Remarks 'extremely Inappropriate'

JOC chief: Mori remarks 'extremely inappropriate'

The chief of the Japanese Olympic Committee has criticized remarks by Mori Yoshiro, the head of the organizing committee of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, that appear to belittle women.

JOC President Yamashita Yasuhiro was speaking at a regular news conference on Tuesday.

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