Tokyo:
Fuji Television bosses resigned on Monday as pressure grew on the Japanese broadcaster over sexual assault allegations against celebrity presenter Masahiro Nakai.
Here’s a summary of how the scandal unfolded:
– December 19, 2024 –
Tabloid magazine Josei Seven publishes a scoop saying that Nakai paid an unnamed woman a lump sum of 90 million yen ($570,000) over what it describes as “serious problems” between them.
The report says Nakai, the woman and another person were supposed to attend a dinner, but the other guest was unable to attend.
During the night a “serious problem” arose between them in a closed environment, the magazine said, without giving details.
– December 25 –
Another major weekly tabloid, Shukan Bunshun, publishes an article headlined: “The full story of Masahiro Nakai’s yen sex scandal – X told interviewer: “I still can’t forgive him.”
It is the first in a series of reports by Shukan Bunshun giving details of the allegations, which the magazine said involved a sexual act carried out without the woman’s consent.
– December 27 –
Fuji Television denies tabloid reports suggesting that one of its employees had arranged the meal where Nakai, a member of 1990s boy band Sensation SMAP, met the woman in 2023.
– January 8 –
Fuji TV announces the temporary suspension of a weekly program hosted by Nakai, and a radio program hosted by him.
– January 9 –
Nakai apologized in a statement on his website that said there had been “issues” and confirmed an agreement had been reached between the two parties.
However, he also says that some of what has been reported is “different from the facts” and emphasizes that there was no physical violence involved.
– January 14 –
US Dalton Investments affiliate Rising Sun Management, a shareholder in Fuji TV’s parent company, is demanding an external investigation to “clarify the facts” and come up with “corrective measures.”
The same day, Nippon TV also drops Nakai.
– January 17 –
Fuji TV holds a press conference with select local media, in which video recording is not allowed, where the company’s president, Koichi Minato, says that a group will launch an investigation mainly composed of outside experts, not a committee of totally independent third parties.
– January 20 –
Japan’s Nikkei Daily reports that more than 50 companies have pulled ads from Fuji TV over its handling of the scandal.
Major brands including McDonald’s and Toyota confirm to AFP that they are pulling their commercials.
– January 23 –
Nakai announces his retirement from the entertainment industry, after losing all of his regular shows.
“I sincerely apologize” to the woman and “I will continue to face all problems sincerely… I am only responsible for everything,” he says.
– January 27 –
Fuji TV president Minato and president Shuji Kanoh resign.
“I would like to sincerely apologize to the women concerned for not providing adequate care due to lack of human rights awareness,” Kanoh tells reporters.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)