Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura provoked a backlash after biting the gold medal of Tokyo Olympic Games softball team member Miu Goto when she visited the municipal government office in her hometown on Wednesday.
During the visit, Kawamura asked Goto to put the medal around his neck, after which the mayor bit the award, mimicking the pose of medal-winning athletes.
The awkward encounter, which was captured on camera, sparked criticism online, with one user calling the mayor's actions "insane."
The Nagoya municipal government also received complaints. One person said it was "disrespectful to the athletes" and another asked, "How is this appropriate when we are being urged to take infection control measures?"
Athletes also joined the chorus of criticism.
Judoka Naohisa Takato, who won the gold medal in the 60-kilogram division, tweeted: "I saw the video and heard his teeth making a clicking noise. I handle my medal very carefully so that it won't get scratched. The fact that Goto maintained her composure and didn't get angry was incredible. I would have cried."
Yuki Ota, a Beijing Olympic silver medal-winning fencer, condemned the mayor's actions on Twitter. "Apart from showing a lack of respect for athletes, he bit it even though [athletes] are putting on medals themselves or on their teammates during medal ceremonies as part of infection prevention measures. Sorry, I can't understand it," he tweeted.
Following the backlash, Kawamura issued a statement, saying, "Biting the medal was my way of expressing the greatest affection. Winning a gold medal was something I very much admired. If I caused any trouble, I am sorry."
In response to the mayor's apology, former soccer player Yuto Takeoka tweeted: "An expression of affection? His excuse is beyond shameful. It's not a matter of causing trouble."
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
