Japan’s Fuji television managers surrender over sexual offense rumor

The chairman and head of state of Japan’s Fuji Television surrendered Monday, weeks after a celeb speaker and previous pop celebrity was charged of sexual offense.

Criticism has actually installed from marketers and the general public over the rumor, which centres around television host and J-pop megastar Masahiro Nakai.

A leading tabloid publication reported last month that the 52-year-old Nakai had actually executed a sex-related act without a female’s permission in 2023.

Nakai apparently later on paid the female, that benefited Fuji TELEVISION, a round figure of 90 million yen ($ 570,000) and both authorized a non-disclosure contract.

As stress installed, the broadcaster revealed Monday that Fuji television head of state Koichi Minato and chairman Shuji Kanoh were tipping down.

An expanding variety of leading marketers drew their commercials from the network after team were charged of attempting to cover the rumor.

Earlier this month, Minato confessed that the broadcaster knew the rumor prior to it was reported by neighborhood media.

The firm has actually refuted insurance claims that its team were associated with organising Nakai’s conference with the female, which apparently occurred at the celebrity’s home.

Nakai– a previous participant of the child band SMAP, which brushed up graphes throughout Asia in the 1990s and 2000s– revealed his retired life on Friday after he was gone down from once a week programs on Fuji television and various other networks.

“I alone am responsible for everything” and “sincerely apologise”, Nakai claimed Friday.

He had actually formerly released a declaration stating several of what had actually been reported was “different from the facts”.

– ‘Outraged’ –

Dozens of brand names, consisting of McDonald’s and Toyota, have actually drawn adverts from Fuji TELEVISION, leaving just overdue civil service news playing throughout business breaks.

The rumor adheres to an additional big numeration for Japan’s show business, including now-defunct child band realm Johnny & &Associates, to which SMAP belonged.

Johnny & & Associates, which has actually currently altered its name, confessed in 2023 that its late creator Johnny Kitagawa had actually sexually attacked adolescent young boys and boys for years.

The accusations versus Nakai arised last month. The tabloid records stunned the country, also as many various other Japanese media have actually a lot more carefully described the accusations as sex-related “trouble” or misbehavior.

Some records claim team at Fuji TELEVISION– and various other networks– have actually lengthy wined and eaten artists, welcoming females team to sign up with such events.

Network head of state Minato held a brief interview on January 17, after United States activist financier Rising Sun Management claimed it was “outraged” by Fuji television’s absence of openness.

But the general public relationships try backfired after just choose media were welcomed, video clip recording was not enabled and Minato decreased to respond to numerous concerns, pointing out a fresh examination.

Rising Sun Management, an investor in the terminal’s moms and dad firm, has actually gotten in touch with the network to develop a board of outdoors professionals, defining Minato’s press instruction as “nothing less than a virtual car crash”.

Fuji Television is a significant exclusive broadcaster that flaunted the highest possible visitor scores in the 1980s and very early 1990s with its daytime drama and prominent funny and range programs.

It broadcast Japan’s very first locally generated computer animation “Astro Boy” in 1963, and has actually additionally generated numerous movies, consisting of Hirokazu Kore- eda’s “Shoplifters” which won the 2018 Palme d’Or at Cannes.

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