After a sexism row sparked by Tokyo Olympics chief's saying women talked too much at meetings, Japan's ruling party wants women at key meetings — but only if they don't talk.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party has proposed a new plan that allows five female lawmakers to join the party's key meetings as observers.

Toshihiro Nikai, the party's 82-year-old secretary-general, said on Tuesday that he heard criticism that the party's board is male-dominated, but added that the board members are elected.