Arielle Busetto 
Masahiro Nakai.(©Sankei)
Former superstar idol group SMAP member Masahiro Nakai announced on January 23 that he would immediately step away from all entertainment activities. The notice came in a statement published on his fan club site.
Media have reported allegations of his sexual assault since December. Responding as he stepped down, he stated, "I will continue to deal with various issues sincerely and in good faith, I personally take full responsibility."
Continuing on his fan club site post, Nakai wrote: "I am truly, truly sorry for having to say goodbye like this."
The circumstances concerning the 52-year-old former top idol's retirement are rocking public discourse as he has been one of Japan's favorite entertainers for decades.
What sparked this controversy? Here's a breakdown of the key issues.
In Case You Don't Know Him
Masahiro Nakai was a member of the former superstar idol group SMAP. Together with his bandmates, he released dozens of hit singles. Rising to fame in the 1990s and gathering popularity around Asia, the group became a household name in Japan before disbanding in 2016.
After SMAP, Nakai transitioned into a successful career as a talent at large, becoming a ubiquitous presence and popular draw on radio, TV, baseball events, and more.
What are the Allegations?
On December 19, 2024, the magazine "Josei Seven" reported on a work-related dinner that Nakai attended in 2023. While initially planned for three attendees, the dinner ended up with just Nakai and a woman described as an anonymous talent actress. The woman later claimed to have experienced "serious trouble" with Nakai, hinting at sexual assault. The issue was reportedly settled privately with Nakai paying ¥90 million (about $580,000) to the victim.
In an X post published on January 9, Nakai admitted that there had been a "problem" with the woman involved. However, he denied having used violence and reiterated that the issue had been settled. While apologizing for his conduct, he wrote, "I plan to continue my activities as usual."
Why is Fuji Television Involved?
Following the scandal's unfolding, the role of Fuji Television Network was also pulled into the spotlight. The magazine article implied that at least one Fuji Television employee knew of the allegations or had introduced the victim to Nakai.
In a press conference on January 17, Fuji Television President Koichi Minato also admitted that he had been made aware of the incident. However, he said he had not made the issue public to protect the actress's privacy and her wishes to return to work.
What has happened since?
In the fallout of Nakai's misconduct, Fuji Television was accused of knowing about the sexual assault allegations but continuing to employ him. The broadcaster has not directly answered the allegations. From there, Fuji's lack of transparency on its role became a controversy of its own.
Fuji Television held a January 17 press conference on the issue but was accused of intentionally excluding other TV stations. That decision limited the opportunity for thoroughly questioning the broadcaster's representatives about the allegations. Under still-mounting pressure, Fuji Television announced on January 24 that it would hold another press conference on Monday, January 27.
The broadcaster's method of investigating the allegations has also raised serious concerns. President Minato on January 17 claimed that an "internal investigative committee" would be put together. However, he failed to state if any of its members would be unaffiliated with the broadcaster, raising questions about its independence.
Major Financial Fallout
When accusations surfaced that Fuji Television might have known about or enabled Nakai's misbehavior and not made it public, there was a swift and harsh reaction from major sponsors. Toyota publicly announced they were reconsidering their agreements. Other companies such as Nissan, Honda, and Suntory have also come out with similar decisions. As of this writing, over 50 companies have threatened to pull out of sponsorship agreements with Fuji Television.
Parent Company Steps In
The evolving situation prompted an emergency board meeting of Fuji Television's parent company, Fuji Media Holdings (FMH). Coming out of the January 23 meeting, FMH President Osamu Kanemitsu said further steps would be taken to address the situation.
"It's not a given that the approach taken until now was correct. The investigative committee will look into our internal controls, governance, and whether the awareness of human rights was functioning properly," stated Kanemitsu.
Fuji Television has since specified that it would assemble a committee of independent lawyers. To clarify, the broadcaster said it would address details about the investigation in a January 27 press conference.
Meanwhile, calls for a third-party investigation into the network's handling of the incident have also grown louder.
What has been the response on social media?
Social media has been abuzz with reactions reflecting criticism of Nakai's misbehavior and also his immense popularity.
One X user commented it was a shame that Nakai had to retire so suddenly in the fallout of the scandal.
While some fans expressed sadness over his retirement, others questioned whether the public fallout was proportionate to the allegations.
One netizen questioned whether it was necessary "to discredit so much a person who had worked for others his whole career."
This is a developing story. Follow JAPAN Forward for updates and coverage of Fuji's January 27 press conference.
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Author: Arielle Busetto
