Japanese Corporations Suspend Advertisements on Fuji TV Amid Sexual Favor Allegations
Major Companies Concerned About Corporate Image
Nakai Masahiro and Fuji TV Face Growing Industry Backlash
The Japanese national idol group SMAP member Nakai Masahiro (52, photo) has been embroiled in allegations that he received sexual favors from female employees at Fuji TV, causing an uproar in the Japanese broadcasting industry. Major Japanese companies such as Toyota Motor Corporation have been suspending their advertisements aired on Fuji TV one after another.
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported on the 20th that as of that day, at least 15 companies including Toyota Motor Corporation, Nissan Motor Corporation, Seven & I Holdings, and cosmetics company Kao have suspended advertisements airing on Fuji TV amid the sexual favor allegations. This decision was made based on concerns that the corporate image could be damaged.
Japan’s major retail company Aeon canceled advertisements scheduled to air from that day and stated, "We will consider resuming advertisements once the facts are clarified and Fuji TV’s system is reorganized, allowing for a comprehensive judgment."
McDonald's Japan announced, "We decided to suspend advertisements after comprehensively considering a series of reports and Fuji TV’s announcements." Aeon, a major Japanese retail company, also canceled program advertisements scheduled to air from the 21st. Aeon stated, "We will consider resuming advertisements once the facts are clarified and Fuji TV’s system for improvement is reorganized, allowing for a comprehensive judgment."
Earlier, the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun exposed that Fuji TV had been habitually providing female employees such as announcers as sexual favors to influential entertainers. According to the report, a female staff victim protested to Fuji TV and received 90 million yen (approximately 833.6 million KRW) from Nakai as a settlement. Nakai apologized, saying, "It was all due to my shortcomings," but faced criticism for adding, "An agreement has been reached, so there will be no disruption to my entertainment activities."
Following these reports, on the 16th, Fuji TV female announcer A also revealed through the media, "I was almost forced to provide sexual favors through programming director B to another male entertainer."
Nakai Masahiro debuted in 1988 as the leader of Japan’s national idol group SMAP and is known to hold immense power in the entertainment industry, hosting 5 to 6 programs on major broadcasting stations.
TBS announced the day before that it decided to cancel the program where Nakai serves as the main host and will conduct an internal investigation to understand the situation regarding human rights violations. Nippon TV also stated that it has conducted internal awareness activities concerning human rights violations.
The controversy is spreading throughout the industry. Minato Koichi, president of Fuji TV, held a press conference on the 17th and apologized. He said, "I apologize for causing discomfort and concern to everyone involved," but avoided answering detailed facts by saying, "I want to leave it to the investigation." Although it was a public apology, criticism arose over the format, including banning camera coverage.
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