The chairman and president of Fuji TV, one of Japan’s largest television networks, resigned after a sexual misconduct scandal involving prominent host and former SMAP boyband member Masahiro Nakai went public. The scandal erupted after Nakai was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a 2023 dinner party allegedly organized by Fuji TV staff.
Subsequent reports revealed that Fuji TV was aware of the allegations but failed to report them, leading to accusations of a cover-up. At a press conference on Monday, Fuji TV Chairman Shuji Kano and President Koichi Minato announced their resignations after an emergency board meeting.
They bowed their heads and apologized, expressing regret over the impact of the scandal on Fuji TV and the entertainment industry as a whole. President Minato said: “I deeply feel the weight of responsibility for the loss of trust in the media.
In retrospect, I realize that our response was not up to par.” Minato previously admitted that Fuji TV learned of the allegations immediately after the incident, but chose to remain silent, citing the woman’s “mental and physical recovery” and “protection of her privacy.” This excuse, however, has not quieted public outrage. Last month, reports surfaced that Nakai had paid more than $500,000 in compensation to the unnamed woman.
Then new allegations surfaced suggesting that Fuji TV employees were involved in organizing the dinner party where the incident allegedly occurred. Nakai denied assaulting the woman and said the matter had been “resolved” through a settlement agreement.
Despite this, public outcry intensified and major brands, including automakers Nissan and Toyota, refused to advertise on Fuji TV. In an open letter, investment firm Rising Sun Management, a major shareholder in Fuji TV’s parent company, strongly criticized Fuji TV, saying the scandal “exposed serious shortcomings in corporate governance.” In response, Fuji TV set up a third-party committee to investigate the matter.
Newly appointed president Kenji Shimizu, who succeeded President Minato, vowed to implement reforms and prevent future misconduct. He said he would “never tolerate actions that violate human rights and will start from scratch to restore trust.” The scandal caused widespread outcry: earlier this month, Fuji TV suspended a weekly program hosted by Nakai.
Other TV stations have also withdrawn the host’s services, and some have launched their own internal investigations amid reports that such dinners organized by celebrities are commonplace in the industry. The Japanese government has called on Fuji TV to take decisive action to restore trust.
