Latest news with #FujiMediaHoldings
Japan Times
23-05-2025
- Japan Times
Fuji TV panel defends conclusion of 'sexual violence' by Nakai
A third-party committee set up by Fuji Television Network on Thursday defended its report concluding that former television personality Masahiro Nakai had committed "sexual violence" against a former Fuji TV announcer. The move came in response to a statement released by a lawyer for Nakai on May 12 that argued that a violent or coercive sexual act typically associated with the Japanese term for sexual violence could not be confirmed between Nakai and the woman. The third-party committee said in a statement Thursday that its recognition of sexual violence was based on the World Health Organization's definition because Fuji TV and its parent, Fuji Media Holdings, needed to fulfill their accountability to global shareholders. The committee rejected the request from Nakai's side to disclose interview records and other evidence, claiming that it would undermine its independence and neutrality. Regarding the Nakai side's claim that for the committee's hearing, it had initially proposed waiving a confidentiality obligation under an agreement between him and the woman, the committee recognized that Nakai's side had been positive about taking such action. The committee, however, said that Nakai ultimately did not agree to lifting the restriction, citing strong concerns about the woman's commitment to the obligation. The committee concluded that it did not lack neutrality, fairness and impartiality.
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Nikkei Asia
16-05-2025
- Business
- Nikkei Asia
Fuji Media rejects Dalton call to replace board, setting up proxy fight
TOKYO -- Fuji Media Holdings will oppose a proposal by U.S. activist investor Dalton Investments to replace its entire board, the Japanese company said Friday, setting the stage for a proxy fight heading into the annual general shareholders meeting on June 25. "We seriously considered all of the director candidates proposed by the company and the shareholders," said Kenji Shimizu, who will become the company's next president in June.
NHK
16-05-2025
- Business
- NHK
Parent of Fuji TV posts first-ever annual net loss
The parent company of one of Japan's top broadcasters has posted its first-ever annual net loss. It comes after a scandal at Fuji Television Network prompted many firms to cancel their ads. Fuji Media Holdings said on Friday that its group-wide net loss for the year that ended in March came to 20.1 billion yen, or about 138 million dollars. This is the first time the firm has ended a year in the red since it became a certified broadcasting holding company in 2008 --- and the first loss since Fuji TV went public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1997. A wave of corporate sponsors pulled their commercials from Fuji TV programs after the scandal involving a major celebrity surfaced in January. The parent firm also booked an extraordinary loss on fixed assets. Meanwhile, Fuji Media decided at its board meeting on Friday to reject a proposal from major shareholder Dalton Investments on restructuring the board. Fuji Media instead approved a plan to recommend 11 directors not included in Dalton's proposal. Fuji Television Network President Shimizu Kenji said: "We don't want to have a proxy fight. Our shareholders will make a final decision on this matter." Fuji Media Holdings' general shareholders meeting is scheduled for June 25th. Shimizu, who is set to take over as president of the parent company, said he wants to continue dialogue with all shareholders.
Japan Times
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Nakai's lawyer refutes third-party report finding 'sexual violence'
A lawyer for former popular television personality Masahiro Nakai has refuted a third-party committee's report that found Nakai committed "sexual violence" against a former Fuji TV announcer. "There is an extremely big problem" with the report by the panel set up by Fuji Television Network and its parent, Fuji Media Holdings, the lawyer said in a statement on Monday. The lawyer demanded that the committee disclose the evidence behind its report, which was released in March, by May 26. According to the statement, the lawyer interviewed Nakai and reviewed documents, but "could not confirm that a violent and coercive sexual act typically associated with the Japanese term for 'sexual violence' took place." The statement criticized the committee's report for "irresponsibly using language that conjures up an image of a violent crime." Furthermore, the statement noted that although Nakai accepted a six-hour interview with the committee on March 9 despite a confidentiality agreement, the content of the interview was "barely reflected" in the committee's report. The statement criticized the report for acknowledging facts based on hearsay evidence. "The situation in which Nakai will continue to face undue social disapproval in the future due to the publication of a report that lacks neutrality and fairness should not be ignored," the statement said. It noted that the action by Nakai's lawyer was taken from the perspective of protecting Nakai's human rights. The sex scandal involving Nakai came to light last December following a weekly magazine report, and Nakai, who was a member of the popular disbanded male pop group SMAP, subsequently retired from show business.
NHK
01-05-2025
- Business
- NHK
Scandal-hit Fuji TV's parent firm faces challenge of revamping executive lineup
The parent firm of scandal-hit Fuji Television Network is facing the challenge of how to revamp its top executive lineup as it seeks to improve its corporate governance. Fuji Media Holdings announced on Wednesday that its president, Kanemitsu Osamu, will step down in June along with three external board directors. Kanemitsu had been one of the candidates for Fuji Media's next chairman. Fuji Media announced major changes in its management structure on March 27. The holding firm and Fuji Television have been under fire for their handling of a sexual assault scandal involving a TV personality. The holding firm said the retirements announced on Wednesday are part of its management reforms. Separately, Dalton Investments, a US investment fund and major shareholder of Fuji Media Holdings, says it wants to appoint 12 new directors to the board of the holding company. They include Kitao Yoshitaka, the head of major Japanese financial services firm SBI Holdings. Fuji Television President Shimizu Kenji is expected to be appointed as the next president of the parent company. He told reporters on Wednesday that Dalton's proposals will be "seriously considered." The holding firm said it plans to decide on candidates for new directors in a board meeting this month. Fuji Media also announced on Wednesday that it has revised downward its earnings projections for fiscal 2024. It said it expects a net loss of 20.1 billion yen, or about 140 million dollars. Its previous forecast was a net profit of 9.8 billion yen, or about 68 million dollars. Fuji Media says this will be its first net loss since it became a certified broadcasting holding company in 2008. It will also be the first since Fuji Television went public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1997. The holding firm faces the challenge of rebuilding its management structure amid the uncertainty of how it can improve its performance. The number of Fuji Television's corporate sponsors airing commercials dropped sharply after the scandal surfaced.
