Nagoya mayor who bit Olympian's gold medal to take 100% pay cut for 3 months

NAGOYA -- Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura revealed on Aug. 16 his intention to take a 100% pay cut for three months following criticism for biting an Olympian's gold medal.

Kawamura, 72, came under fire after biting the gold medal of Miu Goto, 20, a member of Japan's softball team for the Tokyo Olympic Games, on Aug. 4 when she visited the mayor at his office. He intends to submit a bill to revise a city ordinance in a regular session of the municipal assembly in September to implement the pay cut.

He repeatedly bowed in apology during the Aug. 16 regular press conference, saying, "I feel like a such pathetic person and am deeply ashamed. My action lacked integrity and I apologize for causing everyone a great deal of trouble."

Mayor Kawamura had offered to pay for the cost to replace Goto's medal after it was decided that she would receive a new one. But the International Olympic Committee declined his offer, saying that they cannot accept political donations under the Olympic Charter.

The mayor was also slammed for asking the Olympian if she had a boyfriend during their meeting. He explained during the news conference that he took an anti-harassment seminar on Aug. 13 and renewed his understanding.

(Japanese original by Masakatsu Oka, Nagoya News Center)