After a public uproar over sexist remarks led to the resignation of the Tokyo Olympics chief in February, and prompted renewed calls for gender equality in Japan, the mass media industry is now facing questions over whether it can address an overwhelming dominance of male perspectives in its own structure and output.

"It's embarrassing to find (mass media) organizations in a situation like this, even though they've been rapping Mr. Yoshiro Mori's misogynistic remarks," said Mami Yoshinaga, chairwoman of the Japan Federation of Newspaper Workers' Unions, in response to complaints about sexism in the media during a recent symposium.

The online symposium, organized by the Japan Mass Media Culture Information Workers' Union Conference and other groups, was held to discuss gender inequality in the media sector, with participation from journalists, researchers and ordinary citizens.