Top Fuji TV executives in Japan resign over sex scandal

In response to an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct by a celebrity TV host, Fuji Media’s chairman and the head of its TV unit are scheduled to resign right away.

On Monday, television president Koichi Minato and chairman Shuji Kano called it quits, prompting a public relations scuffle and the arrest of host Masahiro Nakai.

The 52-year-old Nakai reportedly later paid the woman 90 million yen ($580, 000) and the pair signed a non-disclosure agreement.

While Nakai has worked for many of Japan’s TV networks, the dinner at which the incident occurred was reportedly arranged by one of the broadcaster’s executives.

According to another magazine, Shukan Bunshun, the same executive also organized a separate event where Nakai and other celebrities gathered female TV personalities to provide entertainment.

Dozens of brands, including McDonald’s and Toyota, pulled their advertisements from the private broadcaster after staff were accused of trying to cover up the scandal.

As pressure mounted, Kano and Minato announced their decision to leave.

According to Kano, “I would like to sincerely apologize to the women involved for failing to provide adequate care due to a lack of awareness of human rights.”

“I apologise to the viewers, advertisers, company members, shareholders… for the great concern and inconvenience caused by the series of news reports”, he added.

Minato acknowledged earlier this month that Fuji TV was aware of the scandal before the regional media reported it.

The business disputes claims that its employees organized Nakai’s meeting with the woman, which is alleged to have taken place at the star’s residence.

Nakai, a former member of the boy band SMAP, retired on Thursday after being cut from Fuji TV and other channels’ shows. His previous hits included SMAP, which dominated Asia in the 1990s and 2000s.

“I alone am responsible for everything” and “sincerely apologise”, Nakai said. He had previously stated in a statement that some of the information was “different from the facts.”

With its soap operas and well-known comedy and variety shows, Fuji Television had one of the highest viewerships in Japan in the 1980s and early 1990s.

It produced the first domestically produced animated film, Astro Boy, in 1963, and has also directed other motion pictures like Shoplifters, which won the 2018 Cannes Palme d’Or.

The Nakai scandal follows another huge reckoning in the industry, involving now-defunct boy band empire Johnny &amp, Associates, to which SMAP belonged.