Fuji TV under fire amid sex scandal

Joe Sanders
3 Min Read
Fuji TV under fire amid sex scandal

Dozens of major Japanese companies have pulled their commercials from Fuji Television amid allegations that company officials tried to cover up a sex scandal involving one of the country’s most famous TV hosts. The scandal centers on Masahiro Nakai, a former super popular male band SMAP member and now a prominent host at Fuji and other Japanese networks. Local media have linked Nakai to an alleged sexual assault at a party reportedly arranged by one of Fuji TV’s staff members.

In December, a settlement was reported to have taken place between Nakai and a woman over the alleged sexual assault at a 2023 dinner party. Nakai issued a statement acknowledging a settlement over “a trouble,” but denied using any violence. News of the scandal initially did not trigger a flood of pullouts by sponsors.

However, many began replacing their commercials with public service announcements after Fuji TV’s news conference on Friday, which was criticized for lacking transparency and contrition over the affair. Major sponsors, such as automakers Nissan Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp., cosmetics maker Shiseido, retailer Seven & I Holding Co., and life insurer Meiji Yasuda, announced they were pulling ads from Fuji TV.

Fuji TV sponsors withdraw ads

Local media reports stated that more than 50 companies had done the same. During Friday’s news conference, Fuji TV President Koichi Minato apologized and acknowledged his company had not disclosed the problem despite becoming aware of it about six months before the initial report.

Minato said Fuji TV would investigate the case but asserted that he believed his employees had not done anything wrong. Fuji TV apologized for causing trouble to many advertisers and agencies but declined to disclose further details. Recent reports cited an unnamed female Fuji announcer who alleged that the senior company official linked to the 2023 dinner party had arranged other similar parties for Nakai and Fuji TV.

Fuji only publicly announced the inquiry after one of its largest shareholders, Rising Sun Management, criticized the company and demanded a full investigation and appropriate action. Rising Sun is an affiliate of the U.S. investment management firm Dalton Investment. Japan’s entertainment industry is currently facing a wave of sexual assault cases, including massive abuses by the now-defunct talent agency Johnny & Associates, which managed SMAP and many other boy bands.

In 2023, Johnny & Associates admitted to sexual abuse against hundreds of boys and young men by its late founder, entertainment mogul Johnny Kitagawa.

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