TOKYO — A significant number of prominent Japanese corporations have withdrawn their advertisements from Fuji Television as a result of accusations suggesting that officials from the network attempted to conceal a sexual misconduct scandal involving a well-known television personality.
The controversy revolves around Masahiro Nakai, a former member of the highly popular boy band SMAP, who has also established a successful career as a television host for Fuji and other networks. Nakai has been implicated in local media reports concerning an alleged sexual assault that reportedly occurred at a gathering organized by a member of Fuji TV’s staff.
The situation escalated following a report by the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun in December, which disclosed that Nakai had reached a 90 million yen (approximately $580,000) settlement with a woman relating to the alleged incident at a dinner party in 2023. In his public statement, Nakai acknowledged entering into a settlement for “a trouble” but firmly denied any accusations of violence.
Although the news of the scandal did not lead to an immediate backlash from sponsors, a shift occurred after a press conference held on Friday, which drew criticism regarding the network’s lack of transparency and remorse concerning the matter. Following this event, many companies began replacing their commercials with public service announcements. Major sponsors, including car manufacturers Nissan Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp., cosmetics brand Shiseido, retailer Seven & I Holding Co., and life insurance provider Meiji Yasuda, announced their decision to withdraw advertisements. Reports indicated that over 50 companies had followed suit.
On Tuesday, Nissan confirmed its withdrawal of advertisements from Fuji TV while keeping an eye on the evolving situation before making additional decisions. During the press conference, Fuji TV President Koichi Minato expressed his apologies and acknowledged that the company had failed to disclose the issue despite being aware of it roughly six months prior to the Shukan Bunshun article. He stated that the network would conduct an internal investigation but maintained that he believed his employees had acted appropriately.
Fuji TV extended apologies to various advertisers and agencies affected by the scandal, although specific details were not disclosed. In the latest issue of Shukan Bunshun, released on Thursday, an unnamed female announcer from Fuji claimed that a senior official associated with the 2023 dinner had organized additional similar events for Nakai and the television station.
The inquiry was only publicly disclosed after criticism from one of Fuji TV’s primary shareholders, Rising Sun Management, which demanded a comprehensive investigation and appropriate corrective measures. Rising Sun is connected to the U.S. investment firm Dalton Investment.
The Japanese entertainment sector is currently grappling with a surge of sexual misconduct allegations, including significant abuses associated with the now-defunct talent agency Johnny & Associates, which managed SMAP and several other boy bands. In 2023, it publicly acknowledged the sexual abuse of hundreds of boys and young men by its deceased founder, Johnny Kitagawa, a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
