TOKYO (AP) — The president and chairperson of Japanese network Fuji Television have resigned over a widening sex assault scandal linked to one of Japan's top TV celebrities.

The aftermath of Masahiro Nakai, the leader of Japan's national idol group SMAP, announcing his retirement from the entertainment industry due to a sexual bribery controversy is causing a huge backlash.

The spiralling controversy involves Masahiro Nakai, the 52-year-old media personality who was the leader of defunct male idol group Smap, and mainstream broadcaster Fuji Television. It also highlights the growing role that foreign activist shareholders are playing in compelling change in stuffy Japanese boardrooms.

Fuji TV's Chairman and President have resigned over the handling of the sexual misconduct scandal involving TV presenter Masahiro Nakai.

Masahiro Nakai, one of Japan's top TV hosts and a former pop star, says he is retiring to take responsibility over sexual assault allegations.

The impact of Fuji Television Network Inc.'s loss of advertisers over a scandal between a woman and former TV personality Masahiro Nakai has ･･･

Japanese television presenter Masahiro Nakai, who is currently embroiled in a sexual assault scandal, announced on Thursday that he was retiring from the entertainment industry. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

Observers say the former boy band member's fall from grace echoes music mogul Johnny Kitagawa's decades of sexual abuse Japan's Fuji Television Network has hired external lawyers to investigate a snowballing sex scandal surrounding pop star-turned-TV celebrity Masahiro Nakai,

The chairman and president of Japan’s Fuji Television resigned today, weeks after a celebrity presenter and former pop star was accused of

One of Japan's biggest pop stars and best-known TV hosts, Masahiro Nakai, announced his retirement Thursday, Jan. 23, over sexual misconduct allegations, reports said, in the latest scandal

The allegations concern a 2023 encounter with a woman that involved a closed-door setting and a “sexual act against her will”. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Fuji Media's chairman and TV unit head resigned following sexual misconduct allegations against celebrity Masahiro Nakai, triggering advertiser withdrawals and calls for governance reform. This scandal highlights systemic exploitation in Japan's entertainment sector,