For the past month, a scandal involving sexual assault allegations against a major celebrity at one of Japan’s biggest TV networks has captivated the nation. The case, which led to the retirement of star host Masahiro Nakai, is forcing Japan’s entertainment industry to once again reckon with how it handles abuse claims against powerful figures.
Scandal Erupts at Fuji TV
The controversy centers around Nakai, a former member of the mega-popular boyband SMAP who went on to a successful solo career hosting shows on Fuji TV. In June 2023, Nakai allegedly sexually assaulted a woman at a private dinner arranged by a Fuji TV executive, according to reports.
While Nakai denied using violence and is not under police investigation, he acknowledged unspecified “trouble” with the woman, whom he reportedly paid a ¥90 million settlement. On Thursday, Nakai announced his retirement at age 52, saying he had “completed all discussions” regarding the termination of his contracts.
Johnny Kitagawa’s Long Shadow
The scandal has dredged up painful memories of Johnny Kitagawa, the late mogul who faced allegations of sexually abusing scores of boys at his talent agency. For years, broadcasters and media ignored the claims while reaping profits from Kitagawa’s acts.
It wasn’t until a 2023 BBC documentary, Predator: the Secret Scandal of J-pop, sparked global outrage that the industry was compelled to address the allegations head-on, issuing belated apologies. Hundreds of survivors are now seeking damages from Kitagawa’s rebranded agency.
Swift Corporate Backlash
In a departure from the Kitagawa reckoning, companies have moved quickly to distance themselves from Fuji TV and Nakai. Over 70 major advertisers like Toyota and McDonald’s pulled commercials, while Fuji Media shares plummeted amid criticism from an activist investor.
The uproar created by Mr Masahiro Nakai … exposes serious flaws in your corporate governance.
Rising Sun Management open letter to Fuji board
Fuji TV has since launched an independent probe and Nakai’s shows have been dropped across networks. But critics remain skeptical of the company’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
Employees Demand Change
Meanwhile, rank-and-file Fuji TV employees are speaking out. The company’s labor union has seen membership surge from 80 to over 500 in a matter of days. Staff are said to be furious at management’s handling of the scandal.
I hope the company will be reborn with a sense of crisis.
Anonymous Fuji TV employee to Asahi Shimbun
An Industry at a Crossroads
Observers say the Fuji TV scandal could be a watershed for the entertainment business, which has long struggled to shed the legacy of abuse embodied by Kitagawa. But it remains to be seen if the industry is genuinely ready to transform its culture.
As one media studies professor put it: “If women are being treated not as equal human beings but as some kind of lubricant to facilitate the making of TV programmes, it’s time they stopped this practice.” For the sake of abuse survivors past and present, many are hoping this scandal will be the wake-up call that spurs real change.
