Fuji Media Leadership Resignation Amidst Sexual Misconduct Probe

By Rocky Swift

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s Fuji Media announced that its chairman and the head of its TV unit would step down immediately due to an ongoing investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving a celebrity TV host.

The scandal has prompted a significant loss of advertisers and raised investor calls for a management overhaul, highlighting ongoing concerns about the exploitation of women in Japan’s entertainment industry.

In December, Japanese magazines accused Masahiro Nakai, a popular TV host and former boy band member of SMAP, of sexual misconduct. The incident, which took place during a dinner event arranged by a broadcaster’s executive, has since prompted further scrutiny. Shukan Bunshun magazine also reported that this same executive previously organized events where female personalities were allegedly coerced into entertaining Nakai and other celebrities.

Nakai, aged 52, has publicly apologized for the incident, has stated his retirement from show business, and acknowledged a settlement with another involved party but has avoided directly addressing the specific allegations. No comment has been provided in response to a Reuters inquiry.

Fuji Media has stated that Chairman Shuji Kanoh and TV unit head Koichi Minato will resign effective immediately, with Kenji Shimizu stepping in to lead the TV unit.

Reports from tabloid magazines indicate a serious incident occurred in June 2023 involving a woman invited to a dinner with Nakai and a Fuji TV executive. The executive reportedly canceled last minute, leaving her vulnerable, and she claimed she was violated against her will. Kanoh expressed his sincere apologies to the victim and admitted inadequacies in the company’s care and attention to human rights.

Fuji Media was aware of the woman’s complaint in June but refrained from a detailed investigation, citing privacy and ongoing settlement discussions.

After Minato’s press conference on January 17, where he answered few questions, public outrage intensified. Numerous major companies, including Toyota and Kao, suspended advertising with Fuji, resulting in a shift towards public service announcements.

An independent investigation has been promised by Fuji Media, which will involve three lawyers and is expected to report by the end of March. Activist investors, including Dalton Investments and Zennor Asset Management, have criticized the company’s crisis management and called for thorough leadership changes.

Following a drop in shares in late December and early January, Fuji Media’s stocks have rebounded, reportedly rising 14% since the initial scandal news broke.

The recent sexual misconduct scandals in Japan echo sentiments similar to the U.S. #MeToo movement, gathering momentum since 2017. In 2023, Japan’s prominent talent agency, Johnny & Associates, announced its closure after revelations of longstanding abuse by its founder toward boy band members.

The documentary “Black Box Diaries,” which explores a woman’s pursuit of justice after accusing a journalist of rape, has been nominated for an Academy Award, further illustrating the cultural shift around these issues in Japan.