Gov’t urges Fuji TV to restore trust after Nakai sex scandal

Following a sexual misconduct scandal involving well-known TV host Masahiro Nakai and the Tokyo broadcaster’s subsequent handling of the case, the Japanese government on Friday urged Fuji Television Network Inc. to win back the trust of sponsors and viewers.

Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Seiichiro Murakami said at a press conference, “We would like the company to clarify the facts,” one day after Nakai, who gained notoriety as a member of the now-defunct pop group SMAP, announced his retirement from the entertainment industry.

Murakami added that on Thursday, he requested that Fuji TV look into the matter quickly and react suitably.

According to Japanese weekly magazines, a Fuji TV employee organized the meal party in June 2023 where the alleged sexual misconduct occurred.

The only people who attended the event were Nakai and the woman with whom he had reached an out-of-court settlement of 90 million yen.

Fuji TV came under fire for its initial response to the scandal, which came to light in December. At its first press conference on the matter, the broadcaster restricted the number of participants and prohibited filming.

Since then, several significant Japanese businesses have stopped using Fuji TV for their advertisements. It made the decision on Thursday to hold a second press conference on Monday and to form an impartial third-party panel to investigate the case.

Japan’s top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said Friday that ministries and agencies will check whether Fuji TV is involved in their public relations and promotional projects, and respond “appropriately” if needed.