The chairman and president of Fuji TV, one of Japan’s leading television networks, have resigned following a sexual misconduct scandal involving Masahiro Nakai, a prominent TV host and former member of the boy band SMAP.
The scandal emerged after Nakai was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a 2023 dinner party reportedly organized by Fuji TV staff.
Reports later revealed that the network was aware of the allegations but failed to disclose them, sparking accusations of a cover-up.
At a press conference held on Monday, Fuji TV chairman Shuji Kano and President Koichi Minato announced their resignations after an emergency board meeting.
Bowing in apology, they expressed remorse for the scandal’s impact on the network’s credibility and the entertainment industry.
“I deeply regret undermining trust in the media,” Minato stated. “Reflecting on the matter, I acknowledge the shortcomings in our response.”
Minato admitted that Fuji TV had been aware of the allegations shortly after the incident but opted to remain silent, citing concerns for the victim’s “physical and mental recovery” and “protection of her privacy.” However, this explanation has failed to pacify the public.
Last month, it was revealed that Nakai paid the unnamed woman a settlement exceeding half a million dollars. Further allegations indicated that a Fuji TV employee played a role in organizing the dinner party where the incident occurred.
While Nakai denied using violence, he acknowledged resolving the matter through a settlement.
Despite this, public outrage has grown, leading major brands such as Nissan and Toyota to withdraw their advertisements from Fuji TV.
Rising Sun Management, the majority shareholder of Fuji TV’s parent company, issued an open letter criticizing the network’s handling of the case.
“This scandal highlights severe flaws in your corporate governance,” the letter read.
In response, Fuji TV has established an independent committee to investigate the incident. Newly appointed President Kenji Shimizu pledged to reform the organization and rebuild trust.
“I will not tolerate human rights violations and will start afresh to restore confidence,” Shimizu declared.
The fallout has been significant, with Fuji TV suspending a weekly show hosted by Nakai earlier this month.
Other networks have also severed ties with the presenter, and some have launched internal investigations into similar incidents within the industry.
The Japanese government has urged Fuji TV to take decisive action to restore public trust, as the scandal continues to shake the entertainment sector.
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