A sex scandal involving famous Japanese TV host Masahiro Nakai and Fuji Television Network Inc. has exposed systemic governance and abuse issues among Japanese broadcasters, causing public disenchantment with the media industry that will likely be difficult to overcome.
The fallout from the scandal surrounding Nakai, who rose to fame as a member of the now-defunct pop group SMAP, has already led to over 70 Japanese companies pulling ads from Fuji TV as well as the resignations of two of the broadcaster's top executives.
Nakai, 52, earlier this month also announced his retirement from show business.
Other Japanese broadcasters are now grappling with an escalating crisis as allegations of inappropriate conduct and governance failures rock the industry. Major networks including Nippon Television Network Corp, Tokyo Broadcasting System Television Inc, TV Asahi Corp and TV Tokyo Corp have launched investigations to uncover whether similar incidents have occurred within their organizations.
The controversy stems from a report made by a weekly magazine in December which alleged that a meal for a group of people arranged by a Fuji TV employee in June 2023 ended up with only Nakai and his unnamed female victim present, leading to nonconsensual sexual activity and a 90 million yen out-of-court settlement.
Fuji TV, which apparently felt immediate action was unwarranted, has faced criticism for its response. It was only forced to act after U.S. fund Dalton Investments LLC, a shareholder of the broadcaster's parent company, Fuji Media Holdings Inc, issued a letter on Jan 14 requesting the establishment of a third-party committee to investigate.
The scandal comes as Japan's entertainment industry has been hit by multiple revelations of sex-related scandals, including accusations of years of abuse by Johnny Kitagawa the founder of the male talent agency formerly known as Johnny & Associates Inc. that pushed SMAP and other groups to stardom.
Fuji TV held its first press conference on the Nakai matter on Jan 17, but was criticized for limiting the number of participants and banning filming, as well as for its evasive answers.
While the network said its employee was not involved in setting up the meal in which the woman met Nakai, it came to light that then Fuji TV President Koichi Minato had allowed Nakai to continue appearing on programs despite being aware of the allegations against him.
Minato justified the decision to not disclose the incident in consideration of "the woman's physical and mental recovery as well as the protection of her privacy."
The press conference, which was held in hopes of defusing the controversy, only added fuel to the fire. Sponsor reactions were swift and severe, with companies such as Toyota Motor Corp pulling advertisements from the network.
While the escalating situation led Fuji TV to announce six days later the establishment of an independent third-party investigation, as well as plans to hold another press conference, it faced intensifying calls within the company for top executives to resign.
On Monday, Fuji TV held a second press conference on the issue, during which it announced the resignation of Minato and Chairman Shuji Kano. But the 10-hour televised press conference, which was open and attended by over 400 participants, failed to shed further light on the issue.
It also failed to persuade advertisers that had pulled their ads from the network to return, with a telecommunications company official stating that it would not resume ads "until the third-party committee's report is complete and we can confirm effective measures to prevent a recurrence."
Meanwhile, an official of a restaurant operator advertiser expressed doubt governance reform was possible given "the new president is an internal appointment."
The Shukan Bunshun weekly, which first reported the incident in December, issued a correction for its story on Tuesday, saying an employee of Fuji TV had not invited the woman to the meal with Nakai. But it maintained that the broadcaster was involved in the "trouble" given that the woman went to the meal believing it was similar to other events the person arranged.
Fuji TV's handling of the situation highlights that a culture of unaccountability remains. At the center of this turmoil lies Hisashi Hieda, a business magnate who led the company from 1988 to 2017 but now faces mounting criticism for his enduring influence, which some argue has hindered meaningful reform.
Arata Oshima, a documentary director and former Fuji TV employee, said executives like Minato, who were iconic figures during Fuji TV's golden years, put the network out of step with societal norms as they carried over the mindset from Japan's bubble era.
Hieda was emblematic of this disconnect and "should have taken responsibility as a leader as ratings and performance declined over the past decade, but instead he clung to power," said Oshima.
Hieda, whose absence from both press conferences was notable, is currently an adviser at Fuji TV. But, according to an industry source, "he still holds overwhelming authority over personnel decisions, so other executives are at a loss of what to do."
© KYODO
31 Comments
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Newgirlintown
I never understood why the SMAP grandads continue to be popular despite the fact that they’re hardly boys anymore. They sell them to the public as if they’re still these fresh faced 20 somethings when they’re all more likely in their 50s now.
IronBeard
How about calling it rape instead of a scandal?
Capuchin
As with Johnny's decades long openly known sexual abuse ofminors why isn't this a matter police are investigating?
Deep bows, press conferences and hush money do nothing to root out the problem.
David Brent
Imagine how much worse things are in Japan’s billion dollar AV industry.
bo
Those pesky foreigners again , uncovering some home truths ,lol
garymalmgren
This case is so murky.
RE: Minato justified the decision to not disclose the incident in consideration of "the woman's physical and mental recovery as well as the protection of her privacy."
The victim could just as easily requested that Fuji TV NOT disclose her identity or the circumstances.
King Minus
Rape scandal, not "sex" scandal.
Lindsay
sex scandal exposes dark underbelly of Japan
There, I fixed the headline for you.
WoodyLee
That main photo tells me something must have gone terribly wrong to make them loose their smiles, these men are up to no good I say, LOL
WoodyLee
They should all RESIGN and allow new blood to run the business.
Mr Kipling
The original story in the weekly magazine stated that a Fuji TV executive had set up the date as a diner party at Nakai's house knowing that the morning announcer (won't give her name) would be the only one attending.
This was not true and the magazine has now admitted this and apologized. I have no idea about the supposed culture at Fuji TV but the executive in question has been unfairly accused over the above incident.
GillislowTier
Basically FujiTv was Harvey Winesteining its young female staff to the shock of no one.
Honestly they should investigate all major entertainment companies for this. And normal businesses because it’s likely common throughout. There’s no small number of announcers and actresses who have alluded to such of the years and never has any action, just them getting pushed out.
Geeter Mckluskie
I never understood their appeal in the first place. None of them can sing or act. What is their "talent" exactly?
TokyoLiving
Media in all countries are the same..
Nothing new..
Too much drama..
TokyoLiving
All world's AV industries are pure evil..
Sanjinosebleed
there fixed the title for you!
factchecker
Media in all countries are the same..
Nothing new..
Too much drama..
Their country, their sleaze. LOOOOOOL!
Simon Foston
TokyoLivingToday 09:42 am JST
Does that mean you're okay with what's been going on in the Japanese media? All this stuff is just fine with you and it can keep happening?
ifd66
That's a seriously depressing looking group of men.
kohakuebisu
The whole thing is a closed shop and only people amenable to the government are allowed in. That's why there are only a handful of digital terrestrial broadcasters. There is capacity for far more.
This Fuji scandal is likely to ratchet advertising spending down for good. If you can stop your adverts and still sell your beer and curry roux, why start spending on adverts again?
SaikoPhysco
Media in all countries could be the same but Japan is different because of the Gaman culture. The USA was possibly the same up until the 1960's but things changed women started fighting back and speaking up which coincided with the fight for Women's Rights. Japan, to this day, has still not ever had any large Woman's Rights Movement.... and again, that is part of the Gaman / stay quite persevere mentality in the Culture. The women of Japan need to band together and make their voices heard.
diobrando
Over 10 hours of talks by medias than can not be cleared between themself to simply explain what of the most dirty violence : a rape on a woman by a man covered by TV channel leading to pay 90 millions to shut the mouth of the victim.
grc
Japan reminded me of Victorian England in terms of public bs private morality when I first visited it over thirty years ago. That view hasn’t changed
grc
bs = vs
Keepitreal
Tip of the iceberg..
quercetum
Waste of money and the matter didn’t get settled
Nakai spent 30 years at the top of the industry and his networrh is only $5 million.
Were there other settlements?
Redtail Swift
Why is any member of SMAP still working? Who is this woman that accused Nakai anyway? I think the public has a right to know. What if she lied?
dobre vam zajebava
there are many perverts in japanese TV everyday...Nakai kun just had a bad luck as get exposed...
iron man
They should all RESIGN and allow new blood to run the business
Sure, welcome to the new age of pretty boy singers. etc. etc. etc. only the Japan consumer can change their diets.
djv124
*Fuji TV, which apparently felt immediate action was unwarranted, has faced criticism for its response. It was only forced to act after U.S. fund Dalton Investments LLC, a shareholder of the broadcaster's parent company, Fuji Media Holdings Inc, issued a letter on Jan 14 requesting the establishment of a third-party committee to investigate.*
Took an American to teach Japan that rape is not okay.
Oh, the irony.
Aoi Azuuri
Profit complex among Japan's major TV stations and major talents agencies had become complices that prioritize benefit with victimizing even human rights or fairness.
Its Japanese showbiz syndicate cannot even correct themselves unless criticism from overseas such as BBC or UN.