The executives of Japanese network giant Fuji Television and its parent company have stepped down following explosive allegations against former SMAP frontman Masahiro Nakai and claims of a corporate cover-up. reports the Associated Press.
Network president Koichi Minato and chairman Shuji Kanoh announced their immediate resignations on Monday as fallout continues over Nakai’s alleged sexual assault of a woman at a dinner party in 2023 — an event Fuji TV employees reportedly helped organize.
“We deeply regret that we mishandled the matter due to our lack of awareness about human rights and corporate governance… and as a result, our responses to the woman involved were inadequate,” Minato said at a news conference. “We are deeply sorry that we have destroyed our credibility.”
The scandal, which first broke in December through revelations in Japanese magazines, has led to an advertising exodus at the network. While acknowledging that the incident was being treated as an “extraordinary” case requiring strict confidentiality, Minato denied any cover-up motivated by Nakai’s star status, although the channel continued to air him on air for eighteen months after the alleged attack.
Fuji officials also confirmed that female announcers and employees have historically participated in parties with stars, talent agency executives and sponsors, although they denied any sexual services were involved. Minato admitted that those at the top had been “complacent about outdated gender roles” and needed to “update their mindset.”
The controversy marks another blow to Japan’s entertainment industry, which has been grappling with multiple cases of sexual violence, including widespread abuse allegations against the late talent mogul Johnny Kitagawa, whose now-defunct agency Johnny & Associates once managed Nakai’s mega-popular boy band SMAP.
Nakai announced his retirement from show business last week, citing responsibility for the “trouble” and resulting business losses, although he previously denied any violence or third-party involvement.