[Seoul=Newsis] According to Nihon Keizai Shimbun, as of the 20th, at least 15 companies, including Toyota Motor, Nissan Motor, Seven & I Holdings, and cosmetics company Kao, have decided to halt advertising on Fuji TV amid allegations of sexual solicitation. (Photo = X Capture) *Resale and DB prohibited*
[Seoul=Newsis] Intern reporter Hong Joo-seok = Former member of the popular Japanese idol group SMAP and MC, Masahiro Nakai (52), has retired from showbiz following a sexual scandal. Analysis suggests that a lawsuit demanding damages worth billions of yen could be filed against him.
On the 8th, Japanese media outlet Flash reported that on the 5th, Fuji TV announced legal action against former president Koichi Minato and former executive director Ryo Ota, who were implicated in a sexual solicitation scandal.
Shimizu Kenji, Fuji TV’s president, stated during a press conference, “Our broadcasting revenue has plummeted significantly, causing damage to Fuji TV,” adding that “it appears a damages lawsuit will be filed. However, the causal relationship is not clear, so we cannot make definitive statements.”
When asked about Masahiro Nakai, one of the parties involved in the sexual solicitation allegations, he indicated that “all options remain open” including the possibility of legal action.
According to Fuji Media Holdings’ financial statement for May this year, the group recorded a total deficit of 20.1 billion yen (about 188.58 billion Korean won). This is interpreted as resulting from the mass withdrawal of advertisers due to sexual solicitation allegations against entertainers associated with Fuji TV. This is reportedly the first time Fuji Media Holdings has recorded a deficit.
An industry insider stated, “Nakai is the primary individual responsible for this scandal, and based on President Shimizu’s press conference, there is a strong possibility of a damages lawsuit being filed.” They added, “If more than 1 billion yen (about 9.377 million USD) in damages are claimed against former directors like Minato at Fuji TV, Nakai could face a similar or larger financial claim.”
There are predictions of Nakai’s potential personal bankruptcy.
The industry insider also mentioned, “Despite annual earnings in the tens of billions of yen and owning several luxury properties in Tokyo and elsewhere, Nakai may not be able to handle the substantial penalties that advertisers, apart from Fuji TV, could demand.”
Nakai rose to fame as the leader of the nation’s popular male idol group SMAP under the large entertainment agency ‘Johnny’s Office (now Smile Up)’. After SMAP disbanded in December 2016, he left Johnny’s Office in 2020 and continued to host variety shows and remain active in entertainment.
However, in January, Japanese media outlet Shukan Bunshun reported that a female Fuji TV announcer nearly faced sexual solicitation by a prominent entertainer. The announcer revealed to the media that through Program Director A, she was nearly solicited for sex by another male entertainer, implicating Nakai as the involved celebrity and causing a stir.
According to the report, whistleblower Announcer B claimed that in December 2021 she was informed by Program Director A’s associate that Nakai and A would attend a dinner party. The location was announced only on the day of the event as the Grand Hyatt Tokyo in Roppongi—not a typical hotel restaurant but a suite room.
B explained that Nakai and other male entertainers, A, staff members, herself, and another female announcer were present at the venue. Eventually, everyone left except Nakai, another male entertainer, B, and the other female announcer. B revealed, “After briefly stepping out, I returned to find a naked male entertainer gesturing me to enter a bedroom.”
B stated that she refused and left, stating, “Director A uses female announcers as tools for entertainment and creates situations where only men and women are left together.”
Last December, Shukan Bunshun also reported a female Fuji TV staff member claimed Nakai sexually solicited her. At that time, the victim reportedly protested to Fuji TV and received a settlement of 90 million yen (about 833.6 million Korean won) from Nakai.