JAPAN NEWS



 

Fuji Television Network, Inc. is considering establishing a third-party committee based on the guidelines of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations to investigate the facts regarding a scandal involving television personality Masahiro Nakai, 52, and a woman, according to sources. The TV broadcaster will hold an extraordinary meeting of its board of directors on Thursday.

The company had announced at a press conference on Friday that it would establish an investigation committee led by a third-party lawyer, but there were growing calls for the establishment of a third-party committee with greater independence.

“I hope that the investigation will proceed as soon as possible in a manner that ensures independence, and that efforts will be made to restore trust,” Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Seiichiro Murakami said at a press conference held after a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

The company’s news program “Live News it!” reported on Tuesday that the number of companies that had suspended commercials on Fuji TV had risen to 75 as of Monday.

The number of advertisements replaced by public announcements from the Advertising Council Japan, a public interest incorporated association, is said to be more than 350.

 

Lack of explanation spurs criticism

Companies started pulling their advertisement from Fuji TV one after another in the wake of the broadcaster’s Friday press conference. It is unusual to see a string of companies suspending their ads due to their distrust of the TV station itself, rather than of particular programs or performers. Even some Fuji employees questioned their company’s response to the case.

According to weekly magazine reports, there was an incident in June 2023 when a woman was subjected to unwanted behavior after a dinner meeting at Nakai’s home.

Later, a settlement was reached in which Nakai would pay a large sum of money to settle the matter. In response to the news reports, Nakai released an “apology” comment on Jan. 9, admitting that there had been trouble.

The report claimed that an executive of the company was involved in organizing the dinner party, but the company denied this. Koichi Minato, president of the company, did not disclose at Friday’s press conference whether or not the woman was a Fuji TV employee.

Minato indicated that an investigative committee led by a third-party lawyer would be formed to look into the matter, but he declined to provide factual details on the case.

The suspension of airing commercials spread after the press conference.
According to the company’s press release, 75 companies have suspended the airing of their commercials.

Some of the companies have stated that this was a “comprehensive decision,” but some have expressed dissatisfaction with Fuji TV’s lack of explanation. The Japan Racing Association (JRA), whose horse races are broadcast by the company, has also suspended its commercials from Monday.

“This is not a matter of an individual employee. There are compliance concerns for the entire company. The company’s announcement so far is not enough to explain the whole picture of the matter,” a spokesperson for a major financial institution said, asserting that Minato’s explanation was not sufficient.