Fuji TV president, chairman step down over TV host scandal

The president and chairman of Fuji Television Network Inc. stepped down Monday to take responsibility for a scandal involving popular TV host Masahiro Nakai, who is accused of sexual misconduct against a woman during a meal allegedly arranged by an employee of the broadcaster. The resignations of Koichi Minato as president and Shuji Kano as chairman come amid allegations against Nakai, who rose to fame as a member of the now-defunct pop group SMAP. The scandal has placed the network under intense scrutiny, prompting more than 70 Japanese companies to suspend advertising on its channels. "Looking back, I realize there were shortcomings in our response, and I acknowledge my lack of awareness regarding human rights," Minato said at a press conference attended by over 400 participants that lasted for hours. The broadcaster aired the press conference without commercial breaks. "I feel deeply the weight of my responsibility for undermining trust in the media," he said. Koichi Minato attends a press conference in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2025, after his resignation as president of Fuji Television Network Inc. was announced following allegations that an official of the broadcaster played a role in the sexual misconduct scandal involving TV host Masahiro Nakai. (Kyodo)   According to reports by weekly magazines in December, the woman reached a 90 million yen ($580,000) out-of-court settlement with Nakai over nonconsensual sexual activity during a meal in June 2023. The Shukan Bunshun weekly also reported that a Fuji TV programming department official was involved in arranging the meet-up. Minato said while the company was aware of some "trouble" in June 2023 between the woman and Nakai, who regularly appeared on the network's programming, it did not respond immediately, citing the woman's desire to keep the matter discreet and return to work. The broadcaster said it did not investigate the matter, allowing Nakai to continue appearing on its programs. Nakai, offering apologies to the woman, retired from show business on Thursday. Fuji TV has also faced criticism for its response to the scandal, holding its first press conference on the matter only on Jan. 17, where the number of participants was limited, and filming was prohibited. The broadcaster was criticized for its initial reluctance to establish a third-party investigation committee into the allegation. While it announced the formation of an independent investigation panel on Thursday, calls for top executives to resign intensified within the company. Kenji Shimizu, executive vice president of parent company Fuji Media Holdings Inc., who is set to replace Minato as the broadcaster's president on Tuesday, pledged to "never tolerate acts that violate human rights" and committed to implementing measures to strengthen the company's governance. Fuji TV Vice Chairman Ryunosuke Endo said that the latest leadership shuffle is "provisional" and that the responsibility of all executives will be determined after the third-party committee completes its investigation, expected around the end of March. The Shukan Bunshun also reported that senior Fuji TV officials regularly had female employees entertain celebrities at gatherings, an issue the third-party committee is also expected to investigate. Regarding allegations that an employee of the broadcaster was involved in arranging the meal between the woman and Nakai, Yoichi Ueno, head of public relations at Fuji TV, stated that the employee was not involved. He cited hearings with the employee and Nakai, as well as a review of the employee's smartphone communication records. The press conference "made clear that the company had not made sufficient efforts to sincerely face the woman, understand her feelings and help her recover from the suffering," said Takahiko Kageyama, professor at Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts, specializing in media studies. "The management's evasive attitude during the question-and-answer session was also noticeable," Kageyama said. Related coverage: Government urges Tokyo broadcaster to restore trust amid TV host scandal Japan TV host, ex-SMAP pop idol Masahiro Nakai quits showbiz amid scandal Many major Japanese firms halting commercials for scandal-hit Fuji TV