JAPAN Forward 
Fuji TV Headquarters. (©JAPAN Forward by Hidemitsu Kaito)
On February 21, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) announced that the Odaiba Triennale will be cancelled.
Scheduled for October–December 2025, the Odaiba Triennale is a major arts and culture event organized by TMG and the Odaiba Triennale Organizing Committee. Fuji Television serves as its secretariat. The event's cancellation highlights the ongoing impact of the Fuji TV scandal.
During a Fuji TV press conference on January 27, Ryusuke Endo, head of the organizing committee, suggested that the event was unlikely to proceed as planned.
TMG shared in a statement that "under the current circumstances," the organizing committee "cannot gain the understanding of the stakeholders nor secure sponsors, making it difficult to continue preparations for the Tokyo Odaiba Triennale 2025."
Looking ahead, TMG pledged to establish a more stable organizational structure to ensure that artists and audiences can fully enjoy the event without concerns.
Originally, the "Tokyo Odaiba Triennale 2025" had the theme "Peaceful sleep disturbed by Jokisen — Wildness, Chaos and a New World." The theme was inspired by a kyoka comic poem from the 1850s. It was scheduled to feature major artists from Japan and abroad, such as Yayoi Kusama.
The Background
The controversy surrounding Fuji TV stems from sexual assault allegations against Masahiro Nakai, a former singer who worked on contract as a host for a Fuji TV program, by a Fuji TV employee. The network has been criticized for failing to investigate the claims and continuing to employ Nakai for over a year after the alleged incident.
In the fallout, Fuji TV has come under increased scrutiny. Network President Kenji Shimizu revealed on February 27 that the company had seen a 90% drop in sponsor revenue compared to the previous year.
An investigative committee looking into Fuji TV's corporate governance and responsibility in the Nakai incident is also set to announce its findings at the end of March.
RELATED:
- Fuji TV's Troubles Deepen: Apology, Resignation, and Lost Revenue
- Fuji TV Scandal: A Wake-Up Call for Japanese Media
- Explaining Fuji Executives Resignation Amid Scandal Fallout
Author: Arielle Busetto
