As a result of allegations of sexual assault against star host Masahiro Nakai, Fuji Television’s executives resigned on Monday.
Here is a summary of how the incident unfolded:
December 19, 2024
A scoop from the tabloid magazine Josei Seven claims that Nakai paid an unnamed woman a lump sum of 90 million yen ($ 570, 000 ) for what it describes as” serious trouble” between them.
According to the report, Nakai, the girl, and one other man were scheduled to attend a dinner party, but the other guest was unable to join.
During the night a” major problem” arose between them in a closed-door environment, the newspaper said, without giving information.
December 25
Another leading news regular, Shukan Bunshun, publishes an post headlined:” The whole story of Masahiro Nakai’s 90 million yen sex scandal, X told the interviewer,’ I also didn’t accept him.'”
The publication claims that it was the subject of a sexual act carried out without the person’s consent, and this is the first of a series of reviews by Shukan Bunshun that contains details of the allegations.
December 27
Fuji Television refutes news reports that claim one of its employees had planned the dinner for which Nakai, a member of Smap’s boy band from the 1990s, had a date in 2023.
8-January
Nakai hosts a regular radio program and his program is temporarily suspended by Fuji Television.
9th January
Nakai apologizes in a statement posted on his website that claimed there had been” trouble” and that a resolution had been reached between the two parties.
He adds that some of the information that has been reported is “different from the information” and insists that there has not been any actual violence at the scene.
January 14
US bank Dalton Investments ‘ online Rising Sun Management, a stockholder in Fuji Screens parent company, calls for an additional probe to” define the facts” and provide “remedial measures”.
On the same day, Nippon Television even drops Nakai.
January 17
When business leader Koichi Minato claims a spacecraft will be launched by a group primarily composed of outside experts, not a completely separate third-party commission, Fuji TV holds a press conference with selected regional media at which time recording is prohibited.
January 20
More than 50 businesses have pulled advertisements from Fuji TV, according to Japan’s Nikkei daily, because of how effectively the scandal was handled.
Top brands including McDonald’s and Toyota confirm to AFP they are withdrawing their commercials.
January 23
Nakai announces his retirement from the entertainment industry after all of his regular shows are gone.
” I sincerely apologise” to the woman and” will continue to face up to all problems sincerely… I alone am responsible for everything”, he says.
January 27
Both Shuji Kanoh and Minato, the chairman of Fuji TV, resign.
” I sincerely apologize to the women involved because they failed to provide adequate care because they were ignorant of human rights,” Kanoh tells reporters.
