The new chief of Japan’s public broadcaster has been criticised for playing down the use of sex slaves during World War Two.

Katsuto Momii made the comments at a press conference on Saturday at the beginning of a three year term as chairman.

He’s since expressed regret for his “extremely inappropriate” comments saying that the use of comfort women was common by any country at war.

Momii’s remarks have offended Japan’s neighbours, especially South Korea where most of the women were drafted from.

He also said NHK should support the Japanese government in its territorial dispute with China, going against NHK’s neutral editorial policy.

The former president of IT company Nihon Unisys told reporters on Monday that while the remarks represented his personal opinion, “even as an individual opinion, it’s not something I should have said.”

At least one media analyst has called for Momii to resign.

Almost lost in the furore was Momii’s announcement that he plans to expand NHK’s international broadcasting services.