
TOKYO– Masahiro Nakai, among Japan’s leading television hosts and a previous pop celebrity, stated Thursday he was retiring to take obligation over sexual offense accusations that become part of a wave roiling Japan’s show business and have actually activated an avalanche of shed marketing at one of the networks where he functioned.
Weekly publication Shukan Bunshun reported in December that Nakai had actually gotten to a 90 million yen ($ 580,000) negotiation with a female over the supposed sex attack at a 2023 supper event that Fuji television team presumably aided to arrange. He recognized “a difficulty” and a negotiation, while refuting any type of physical violence, in a declaration previously this month. The publication has actually additionally declared that Fuji television has actually long manipulated its women commentators to captivate celebrities like Nakai.
” I, Masahiro Nakai, is relinquishing home entertainment task since today,” Nakai stated in a declaration dispersed to his paid follower club and published on social media sites by obvious participants. Japanese media additionally validated and reported his retired life.
” I am genuinely sorry for triggering difficulty and losses to numerous individuals,” Nakai stated, and duplicated his “genuine apology” to the female. “I’m truly, truly sorry for stating goodbye in this manner … Sayonara.”
Japan’s show business remains in the middle of a wave of sexual offense situations, consisting of the abuses of hundreds of boys and young men by late talent mogul Johnny Kitagawa, whose now-defunct firm Johnny && Associates handled numerous kid bands, consisting of the one to which Nakai belonged, SMAP.
Last Friday, Fuji Television Head of state Koichi Minato recognized the firm had actually know the issue 6 months prior to the publication record and had not revealed it. Minato said sorry and stated Fuji television would certainly examine the instance yet additionally stated he thought his staff members had actually refrained from doing anything incorrect.
After dozens of commercials were taken out, Fuji television excused triggering difficulty to marketers and companies yet decreased to divulge information.
Adhering to investors’ needs for more information concerning the detraction and tips the firm had actually taken and what procedures are intended, Fuji was readied to have an unique board conference later on Thursday.
Nakai stated in his declaration that he has actually figured out all settlements of ending his programs and agreements with tv, radio and enrollers. He stated he has actually yet to taken all his obligation and assured to “encounter numerous troubles and react genuinely.”
Fuji Tv Network’s vice-chairperson Ryunosuke Endo, that is additionally head of Japanese industrial broadcasters’ organization, in an aired real-time press conference Thursday kept in mind Nakai’s retired life was his “individual choice” yet stated Nakai became part of the upcoming examination which he expected his genuine participation.
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AP video clip reporter Mayuko Ono added to this record.