Reuters, TokyoAmid an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct by a popular
TV host, Fuji Media of Japan announced Monday that its chairman and the head of
its TV unit would resign immediately.
Concerns regarding the mistreatment of women in Japan's entertainment sector
have also been sparked by the scandal, which has resulted in a withdrawal of
sponsors and demands from investors for a management change.
Masahiro Nakai, the former boy band SMAP's frontman and TV host, was accused of
sexual assault by Japanese periodicals in December. The event was reportedly
organised by one of the broadcaster's executives, despite the fact that Nakai
has worked for other TV networks in Japan.
In a different event, the same executive assembled female TV personalities at a
hotel to amuse Nakai and other celebrities, according to a report by Shukan
Bunshun, one of the magazines.
On his fan site, 52-year-old Nakai apologised for causing "trouble"
and declared his retirement from the entertainment industry. Although he hasn't
explicitly addressed the accusations, he has also admitted to striking a deal
with another party. A request for comment from Reuters has not received a
response from Nakai.
With effect from Monday, Fuji Media said that Chairman Shuji Kanoh and Koichi
Minato, the head of its TV unit, would resign. Kenji Shimizu, another TV
executive, will assume the role of president of the TV unit.
Tabloid publications Josei Seven and Shukan Bunshun claim that Nakai went to a
dinner in June 2023 that was invited to a woman by a Fuji TV executive.
However, the CEO abruptly withdrew, leaving her alone with Nakai, and they
claimed that a sexual act had been performed against her will.
"First of all, as a person, I would like to offer my sincere apologies to
the woman involved to whom we were unable to show adequate care and awareness
of human rights," Kanoh said at the meeting.
According to a representative for Fuji Media, the business learnt of the
woman's complaint in June but chose not to report it or conduct a thorough
investigation because of privacy concerns and negotiations for a settlement
between the parties.
After Minato held a news conference on January 17 that was restricted to the
majority of the press and during which she only partially answered questions,
outrage over the incident increased.
Since then, dozens of well-known companies have stopped advertising with Fuji,
including the cosmetics behemoth Kao and Toyota (NYSE:TM). The majority of its
advertisements are now public service messages.
It is unclear if the resignations and Fuji Media's assurances of an impartial
inquiry by a third-party committee will be enough to stop its activist
investors from demanding a change in management and governance.
By the end of March, the committee, which will consist of three solicitors, is
expected to present its inquiry report.
U.S.-based Dalton Investments, which according to LSEG statistics is its
second-largest stakeholder at 5.8%, and Zennor Asset Management, a UK-based
fund that owns just over 1%, are among the activist investors who have
questioned Fuji Media's handling of the problem.
Following a sharp decline in late December and early January, Fuji Media's
stock recovered, helped in part by expectations of a significant corporate
reorganisation, and is currently trading about 13% higher than it was when the
controversy first surfaced.
The #MeToo movement, which began in the United States in late 2017, is
reminiscent of the recent spate of scandals in Japan involving sexual abuse and
coercion.
After a BBC documentary revealed that its founder, Johnny Kitagawa, had
mistreated boy band members for decades, Japan's leading talent agency, Johnny
& Associates, declared in 2023 that it was going out of business.
SMAP, one of Kitagawa's greatest works, helped make Nakai and his bandmates
famous in 1988.
The Japanese documentary "Black Box Diaries" received an Academy
Award nomination this week for its portrayal of a woman's quest for justice
following her accusation of rape against a well-known journalist.
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