Latest news with #FujiTelevisionNetwork
Yomiuri Shimbun
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Fuji TV Vows to Change Corporate Culture; President Calls Victimization of Others Unforgivable
The Yomiuri Shimbun Fuji TV President Kenji Shimizu, right, responds to reporters' questions at the company headquarters in Minato Ward, Tokyo, on Wednesday. Fuji Television Network, Inc. vowed to take measures to change its corporate culture, which was severely criticized by the third-party committee that investigated the sexual assult conducted by former TV personality Masahiro Nakai, in a report issued to the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry on Wednesday. Their aim is to prevent a recurrence of such a problem. Another report presented by the third party at the end of March recognized a female announcer had been a victim of sexual assult done by Nakai in a situation that was an extension of her duties. Her position as an announcer was so weak that she felt she could not resist requests from the company's production and programming departments. In its report, Fuji TV said it put excessive importance on its slogan, 'If it's not fun, it's not Fuji TV,' which was established in the 1980s. It said it would dissolve and restructure its programming and variety program production bureaus. It will separate the announcers' office from the programming bureau and give the office more discretion regarding the appointment of announcers to programs. It will also take stricter disciplinary action against those who violate compliance and employee expenses policies. 'There was a way of thinking that victimizing others was permissible in order to make interesting programs. It's unforgivable somebody was victimized in the process of making a program. We will go back to basics of the Broadcasting Law and play a role as a public institution,' President Kenji Shimizu told reporters.
Japan Times
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Comedian Ishibashi apologizes over sexual harassment dinner incident
Japanese comedian Takaaki Ishibashi on Wednesday apologized for his involvement in a dinner that has been compared to the sexual harassment case involving former television star Masahiro Nakai. A third-party committee, set up by Fuji Television Network and its parent company, last month said that more than 10 years ago, a female Fuji TV employee who participated in a dinner was forced to be alone with a performer and sexually harassed. The committee said the incident was similar to the sexual assault case involving Nakai, who retired from the entertainment industry after the scandal came to light. A weekly magazine reported that the performer was Ishibashi. Admitting his participation in the dinner, Ishibashi said in a statement released Wednesday, "I don't remember the details probably because I had drunk too much." "Due to my own shortcomings, I may have stepped over the line," he said. "I sincerely regret making the woman in question feel uncomfortable.' Ishibashi, who on April 3 said he had developed early-stage esophageal cancer, said in Wednesday's statement that he also suffers from pharyngeal cancer. He is presently in hospital after having undergone surgery, according to the statement. On why he rejected an investigation requested by the third-party panel, Ishibashi said, "The request coincided with the diagnosis of my illness, and I was busy due to numerous tests and preparations for hospitalization. 'I also lacked the mental composure to respond properly, so I apologize for that.'
South China Morning Post
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Japan's Masahiro Nakai sexually assaulted Fuji TV staff amid ‘culture of harassment': report
An independent panel investigating allegations against one of Japan's top celebrities has concluded he sexually assaulted a female employee of Fuji Television Network amid a culture of harassment at the company. Advertisement The report on Monday centred on Masahiro Nakai , a former leader of Japan's once-popular boy band SMAP, and how Fuji TV handled the 2023 case in which Nakai allegedly sexually assaulted a Fuji announcer at a dinner at his home. He later reached a settlement with the woman. A 'serious infringement of human rights occurred', the report by a lawyer-led panel said, describing the incident involving the woman as sexual violence 'occurring as an extension of her job' and refuting Fuji TV executives' previous conclusion that it was a 'private issue', according to Japanese media. 'Although there was no involvement of [other] employees on the day, it was not just a private matter between the two people and we have determined that it was an extension of business duties,' said panel leader Akira Takeuchi as quoted by The Japan Times. But the panel said it was not in a position to establish whether Nakai, who was a host and TV celebrity with Fuji TV, had committed a criminal offence. Advertisement Takeuchi noted, however, that there was a 'persistent culture of sexual harassment at Fuji TV', which was found to have a culture of inviting good-looking female employees to dinners with business partners, potentially giving rise to sexual harassment.
