- Title: Fuji Media, rocked by sexual misconduct allegations, says executives to resign
- Date: 27th January 2025
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (JANUARY 27, 2025) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** FUJI MEDIA EXECUTIVES ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE FUJI MEDIA EXECUTIVES STANDING ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) OUTGOING FUJI MEDIA HOLDINGS CHAIRMAN, SHUJI KANOH SAYING: "First of all I would like to offer our sincere apologies as a company to the woman involved, to whom we were unable t
- Embargoed: 10th February 2025 11:00
- Keywords: Fuji Media Fuji TV Japan Mashiro Nakai SMAP news conference scandal
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Arts/Culture/Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA002643427012025RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Japan's Fuji Media said on Monday (January 27) that its chairman and the head of its TV unit would step down immediately amidst a probe into alleged sexual misconduct by a celebrity TV host.
The scandal, which has led to an exodus of advertisers and investor calls for a management shake-up, has also raised concerns about the exploitation of women in Japan's entertainment industry.
According to Japanese tabloid magazines Josei Seven and Shukan Bunshun, a woman was invited to a dinner in June 2023 with a Fuji TV executive that Masahiro Nakai, a TV host and leader of the former boy band SMAP, also attended. But the executive backed out at the last minute leaving her alone with Nakai and there was a sexual act against her will, they reported.
Fuji Media has promised an independent investigation by a third-party committee. It will be made up of three lawyers and is scheduled to submit a report by the end of March.
The proliferation of scandals involving sexual violence and coercion in Japan in recent years is reminiscent of the #MeToo movement that gained momentum in the United States in late 2017.
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