Claiming that NHK Chairman Katsuto Momii demonstrated subservience to the government and lack of repentance for Japan's wartime use of "comfort women," 172 former employees of the public broadcaster submitted a petition Friday calling on its board of governors to advise him to resign or strip him of power.

"We decided to take this action because we wanted to stress once again that NHK is supposed to be a news organization independent of government authorities and exists to foster Japan's development of democracy," it said.

The list of former employees included some prominent names, notably former news anchors and announcers.