Japan’s Fuji TV bosses resign over sexual assault scandal
The chairman and president of Fuji Television resigned on Monday following a scandal involving celebrity presenter and former pop star Masahiro Nakai, who has been accused of sexual assault.
The controversy erupted after a leading tabloid reported that Nakai, 52, allegedly conducted a sexual act without consent in 2023.
It was revealed that Nakai paid the woman involved—a former employee of Fuji TV—a lump sum of 90 million yen (approximately $570,000) and they signed a non-disclosure agreement.
As public outrage and criticism from advertisers grew, Fuji TV announced the resignations of president Koichi Minato and chairman Shuji Kanoh.
The scandal prompted a number of major advertisers, including McDonald’s and Toyota, to pull their commercials from the network, leaving only unpaid public service announcements during commercial breaks.
Earlier in the month, Minato acknowledged that Fuji TV had prior knowledge of the allegations before they were reported by local media. The company has denied claims that its staff facilitated Nakai’s meeting with the woman at his home.
A former member of the popular boy band SMAP Nakai announced his retirement on Friday after being dropped from various weekly shows on Fuji TV and other networks. In his statement, he took full responsibility for the situation, saying, “I alone am responsible for everything” and expressed his sincere apologies.
The allegations against Nakai have shocked the nation, particularly in light of a broader reckoning within Japan’s entertainment industry, which has faced scrutiny following revelations of abuse within Johnny & Associates, the talent agency associated with SMAP.
A shareholder in Fuji TV’s parent company, Rising Sun Management, expressed outrage over the network’s handling of the situation and called for the establishment of a committee of outside experts.
Minato’s recent press conference was criticized as inadequate, as it was restricted to select media and did not allow video recording.
Fuji Television, once the leading broadcaster in Japan, is known for its soap operas and variety shows and has a storied history, including the airing of Japan’s first domestically produced animation, “Astro Boy,” in 1963.
The network also produced acclaimed films like Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Shoplifters,” which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2018.
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