Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose on April 30 apologized for comments seen as critical of Islamic countries in a recent New York Times article concerning Tokyo's 2020 bid for the Summer Olympics.
The comments were taken by many as a jab at rival Istanbul, which hopes to become the first Muslim city to host the games.
"I think they were inappropriate. ... I apologize to the people in the Muslim world as the comments could lead to misunderstandings among Islamic people," Inose said, reversing a previous statement in which he insisted he was taken out of context. (The Japan Times)
2020年のオリンピック招致に関する米ニューヨーク・タイムズ紙の取材に対し、知事はイスラム諸国を批判。競争相手のイスタンブールに対する攻撃と受け取られた。
The Japan Times ST: May 10, 2013