Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose on Tuesday apologized for and retracted comments perceived as critical of Islamic countries that appeared 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 city in the Muslim world 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 statement made Monday in which he insisted his intention was not accurately reflected in the article.