TOKYO, Jan 27, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The chairman and president of Japan's Fuji 
Television resigned Monday, weeks after a celebrity presenter was accused of 
sexual assault, causing a public relations storm and the mass exit of 
advertisers.

A leading tabloid magazine reported last month that Masahiro Nakai, a J-pop 
megastar turned TV host, had performed a sexual act without a woman's consent 
in 2023.

The 52-year-old Nakai reportedly later paid the woman 90 million yen 
($570,000) and the pair signed a non-disclosure agreement.

After network staff were accused of trying to cover up the scandal, dozens of 
brands, including McDonald's and Toyota, pulled their advertisements from the 
private broadcaster.

As pressure mounted, Fuji TV said its president Koichi Minato and chairman 
Shuji Kanoh were stepping down.

"I would like to apologise sincerely to the women concerned for failing to 
provide adequate care due to a lack of awareness of human rights," Kanoh told 
reporters on Monday.

"I apologise to the viewers, advertisers, company members, shareholders... 
for the great concern and inconvenience caused by the series of news 
reports," he added.

Earlier this month, Minato admitted that Fuji TV was aware of the Nakai 
scandal before it was reported by local media.

The company denies claims that its staff were involved in organising Nakai's 
meeting with the woman, which allegedly took place at the star's home.

Nakai -- a former member of the boy band SMAP, which swept charts across Asia 
in the 1990s and 2000s -- announced his retirement on Thursday after he was 
dropped from shows on Fuji TV and other channels.

"I alone am responsible for everything" and "sincerely apologise", he said.

He had previously issued a statement saying some of what had been reported 
was "different from the facts".

- Reckonings -

Japan has never seen a #MeToo outpouring on the scale of the United States or 
other countries, with many victims fearing a public backlash in a society 
where men still hold most positions of power. 

But the Nakai scandal is the latest in a series of reckonings for the media 
and entertainment industries.

One involves now-defunct boy band empire Johnny & Associates, to which SMAP 
belonged.

Johnny & Associates, which has since changed its name, admitted in 2023 that 
its late founder Johnny Kitagawa had sexually assaulted teenage boys and 
young men for decades.

One of Japan's most popular comedians, 61-year-old Hitoshi Matsumoto, has 
also been accused of sexual assault by two women.

While the tabloid reports about Nakai unleashed a coverage frenzy, most 
Japanese media have taken a cautious approach, referring to the allegations 
as sexual "trouble" or misconduct.

Some media have reported an endemic culture within Japan's entertainment 
industry of wining and dining the top presenters, with women staffers invited 
to join such parties.

- 'Uncover the truth' -

Fuji network president Minato held a short press conference on January 17, 
after US activist investor Rising Sun Management said it was "outraged" by 
the lack of transparency.

But the public relations attempt backfired after only select media were 
invited, video was not allowed and Minato declined to answer many questions, 
citing a fresh investigation.

On Monday, Minato addressed the criticism.

"We are acutely aware that we have undermined the credibility of the media," 
he said.

He also revealed that he was "the subject of an investigation by a third-
party committee".

"I will cooperate fully to uncover the truth and prevent similar problems 
from happening, and to reform the corporate culture," he said.

Fuji Television boasted Japan's highest viewer ratings in the 1980s and early 
1990s with its soap operas and popular comedy and variety shows.

It aired the first domestically produced animation "Astro Boy" in 1963, and 
has also produced films including Hirokazu Kore-eda's "Shoplifters" which won 
the 2018 Palme d'Or at Cannes.