The artistic director of the Tokyo Olympics announced Thursday his intention to resign after offensive comments from him about a Japanese host, a new headache for the organizers almost four months before the opening of the Olympics.

A Japanese tabloid revealed on Wednesday that Hiroshi Sasaki, artistic director of the Tokyo Olympics, suggested last year that popular host and actress Naomi Watanabe be dressed up as a pig for the opening ceremony of the Games.

In a statement, Hiroshi Sasaki said he was "deeply sorry" for this "serious insult" to the young woman with the generous forms.

This case comes just over a month after the resignation of Yoshiro Mori, the chairman of the Tokyo-2020 organizing committee, whose sexist remarks sparked a global outcry.

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In March 2020, before the postponement of the Olympics to this year due to the pandemic, Hiroshi Sasaki had suggested to colleagues via a messaging application to bring Naomi Watanabe down from the sky during the opening ceremony while wearing a pink costume and with pig ears.

His idea, which was immediately dismissed as inappropriate, was to play on the English words "Olympics" and "Olympigs" ("pig" means pig).

"It would have been a grave insult to Ms. Watanabe [...]. I regret from the bottom of my heart, I am deeply sorry," Sasaki said in a statement.

He said he spoke Wednesday evening to the new president of the organizing committee for the Olympics, Seiko Hashimoto, and informed her of his intention to leave his post.

Tokyo-2020 did not react immediately but announced a press conference Thursday on the subject, where Seiko Hashimoto is expected to speak. 

Dress up Shinzo Abe as "Super Mario"

Hiroshi Sasaki was not appointed artistic director for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics until December, but he was already a key figure in various shows associated with the Games.

He was initially responsible for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Paralympic Games, and he also designed the sober event in Tokyo Olympic Stadium last summer that kicked off the new one-year countdown to the Games. postponed (July 23 - August 8, 2021).

In 2016, Hiroshi Sasaki was also behind the idea of ​​disguising the then Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, as "Super Mario" during the closing ceremony of the Rio Olympics, a successful surprise.

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Naomi Watanabe, 33, is a well-known media personality in Japan, and her Instagram account is followed by more than 9 million people.

She did not immediately react to the Sasaki affair.

Famous in Japan since her imitation of singer Beyoncé in 2008, Naomi Watanabe had also made a name for herself abroad by recently participating in the

Queer Eye

series

from Netflix.

Actress, model and influencer, she is also active in the promotion of clothing and cosmetics brands.

Skepticism about the hosting of the Games

The scandal comes as organizers are already battling the skepticism of the Japanese public about hosting the Games this year due to the pandemic, and days before an official decision on whether or not foreign spectators will be present at the event. 'event.

Olympic officials are expected to announce the ban on foreign audiences next week, according to Japanese press.

Organizers insist the Games can take place, despite health restrictions, and they have issued a very strict set of rules which they say will ensure a "safe environment".

The Olympic Torch Relay is scheduled to start on March 25 in Japan.

The organizers banned spectators from attending the start ceremony and part of the first stage.

The public will be allowed on the rest of the course, but cheers and crowds will be banned and the wearing of a mask compulsory.