Leading figures from Fuji Television Network Corporation in Japan, along with their superiors, have resigned due to damaging accusations concerning ex-SMAP bandleader Masahiro Nakai and suspicions of a corporate concealment, as reported by the Associated Press.
On Monday, the president, Koichi Minato, and chair, Shuji Kanoh, stepped down promptly, as the consequences persist from the alleged sexual assault accusations against Nakai at a 2023 dinner gathering – an incident that appears to have been facilitated by staff members of Fuji TV.
At a recent press conference, I, as a representative of this company, humbly acknowledge that we fell short in handling a sensitive case due to our insufficient understanding of human rights and corporate governance. Consequently, our actions towards the affected woman did not meet the mark. I deeply regret that this oversight has tarnished our reputation.
The December revelation of a scandal through Japanese magazine exposés has led to numerous advertisers pulling out from the network. Although Minato admitted that the case was handled as an exceptional situation demanding strict secrecy, he denied any attempts at covering up the incident due to Nakai’s popularity, even though the network kept featuring him on television for another 18 months after the alleged assault.
Officials from Fuji have acknowledged that female announcers and staff members have previously attended social gatherings with celebrities, talent executives, and sponsors in the past. However, they emphasized that no instances of sexual services were ever exchanged. Minato admitted that higher-ups had been “tolerant of outdated gender norms” and recognized the need for a shift in their perspective to become more modern and inclusive.
The ongoing controversy represents another setback for Japan’s entertainment industry, which is currently grappling with numerous sexual misconduct cases. This includes the widespread allegations of abuse that have surfaced posthumously against talent magnate Johnny Kitagawa, who previously managed Nakai’s immensely popular boy band SMAP through his now-defunct agency, Johnny & Associates.
Last week, Nakai formally declared his exit from the entertainment industry, attributing it to the troubles that had arisen and the subsequent financial losses, despite earlier denials of any violent acts or interference by others.
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2025-01-27 16:17