Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser. The fallout from the scandal surrounding Nakai, who rose to fame as a member of the now-defunct pop group SMAP, has already led to over 70 Japanese companies pulling ads from Fuji TV as well as the resignations of two of the broadcaster's top executives.
Nakai, 52, earlier this month also announced his retirement from show business. Other Japanese broadcasters are now grappling with an escalating crisis as allegations of inappropriate conduct and governance failures rock the industry. Major networks including Nippon Television Network Corp. Fuji TV, which apparently felt immediate action was unwarranted, has faced criticism for its response. It was only forced to act after U.
Fuji TV held its first press conference on the Nakai matter on Jan. While the network said its employee was not involved in setting up the meal in which the woman met Nakai, it came to light that then Fuji TV President Koichi Minato had allowed Nakai to continue appearing on programs despite being aware of the allegations against him. Minato justified the decision to not disclose the incident in consideration of "the woman's physical and mental recovery as well as the protection of her privacy.
The press conference, which was held in hopes of defusing the controversy, only added fuel to the fire. Sponsor reactions were swift and severe, with companies such as Toyota Motor Corp. While the escalating situation led Fuji TV to announce six days later the establishment of an independent third-party investigation, as well as plans to hold another press conference, it faced intensifying calls within the company for top executives to resign. But the hour televised press conference, which was open and attended by over participants, failed to shed further light on the issue.
It also failed to persuade advertisers that had pulled their ads from the network to return, with a telecommunications company official stating that it would not resume ads "until the third-party committee's report is complete and we can confirm effective measures to prevent a recurrence. Meanwhile, an official of a restaurant operator advertiser expressed doubt governance reform was possible given "the new president is an internal appointment. The Shukan Bunshun weekly, which first reported the incident in December, issued a correction for its story on Tuesday, saying an employee of Fuji TV had not invited the woman to the meal with Nakai.
