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Japan Today
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Singer Fukuyama says he regrets sexual remarks to female Fuji TV employees
Renowned Japanese singer-songwriter and actor Masaharu Fukuyama has acknowledged making sexual remarks to female employees of Fuji TV at events that a third-party panel on misconduct at the broadcaster had deemed inappropriate, according to a report in a weekly magazine published Monday. The 56-year-old Fukuyama, who holds the sales record for singles and albums as a solo male artist over his 35-year career and is also popular in other Asian countries, said he "deeply regrets" the conduct in an interview with Josei Seven magazine. The revelations come at a time when Japan's entertainment industry has come under scrutiny over a series of sexual misconduct cases, including at Fuji TV, a major commercial broadcaster. Fukuyama said on his official website that he gave the interview "so that there won't be misunderstandings" regarding his remarks to female staff at events arranged by a former top official of Fuji TV, a subsidiary of Fuji Media Holdings Inc. The events were detailed in a report the panel compiled in March in response to a scandal involving popular former TV host Masahiro Nakai's alleged sexual assault of a female former employee of Fuji TV. The report said the functions were arranged by former Managing Director Toru Ota once or twice a year since around 2005 and involved a "major male TV program participant." In the magazine interview, Fukuyama, who acknowledged he was the participant, said, "I hope my apologies will reach those who were offended." According to the panel's report, at least 19 female employees attended the gatherings over the years. One of the women described exchanges with Fukuyama as unpleasant and involving lewd comments. The panel hoped to hold an in-person hearing but was only provided a written response to queries, with Fukuyama citing a busy schedule. In the written responses, Fukuyama had said he "never" made sexual comments to the women. A Fuji TV official said on Monday that the broadcaster has "not confirmed a report of harassment by Mr. Fukuyama." The panel's report found a female Fuji TV employee was subjected to sexual violence by Nakai in June 2023 "as an extension of her job." Nakai, who rose to prominence as a member of the now-defunct pop group SMAP, retired from show business after the allegations came to light. The latest development comes before the September release of "Black Showman," a film starring Fukuyama as the lead character, with Fuji TV among its producers. Fukuyama debuted as a singer-songwriter in 1990, and his best-known songs include "Sakurazaka." He has regularly appeared in a popular New Year's Eve music show aired by public broadcaster NHK, often serving as its headliner. Fukuyama also became famous across Asia, appearing in a Taiwanese drama and holding live tours in Taiwan and Hong Kong. His song "Kusunoki," about a camphor tree that withstood the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki, a southwestern Japan city he hails from, was sung by elementary school students during a peace memorial ceremony in Nagasaki on Aug. 9 this year. As an actor, Fukuyama starred in "Like Father, Like Son," directed by Hirokazu Koreeda, which received the Prix du Jury at the 2013 Cannes International Film Festival, and various hit TV drama series and movies. © KYODO
The Mainichi
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Singer Fukuyama 'regrets' sexual remarks to female Fuji TV employees
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japanese singer and actor Masaharu Fukuyama said he regrets sexual remarks made to female Fuji TV employees as revealed by a third-party panel on misconduct at the broadcaster, a weekly magazine published Monday reported. "I deeply regret it," the 56-year-old told Josei Seven magazine, referring to the remarks made at an event arranged by a former top official of Fuji TV, a subsidiary of Fuji Media Holdings Inc. The panel found the event was "inappropriate" in nature. The report was compiled in March in response to a scandal involving popular former TV host Masahiro Nakai's treatment of a female former employee. The report said the functions were arranged by former Managing Director Toru Ota once or twice a year since around 2005 and involved a "major male TV program participant." In the magazine interview, Fukuyama, who acknowledged he was the unnamed male, said, "I hope my apologies will reach those who were offended." According to the report, at least 19 female employees attended the gatherings over the years. One of the women described exchanges with Fukuyama as unpleasant and involving lewd comments. The panel hoped to hold an in-person hearing with Fukuyama but was only provided a written response to queries due to his busy schedule. Despite Fukuyama's expression of regret, the response said he has "never" made sexual comments and denied he asked inappropriate questions to the women. A Fuji TV official said on Monday, "We have not confirmed a report of harassment by Mr. Fukuyama." The panel's report found the female employee was subjected to sexual violence by Nakai in June 2023 "as an extension of her job." Nakai, who rose to prominence as a member of the now-defunct pop group SMAP, retired from show business after the allegations came to light. Fukuyama debuted as a singer in 1990 and became famous across Asia. Among his best-known songs is "Sakurazaka." "Like Father, Like Son," directed by Hirokazu Koreeda and starring Fukuyama, received the Prix du Jury at the 2013 Cannes International Film Festival.
Kyodo News
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Kyodo News
Singer Masaharu Fukuyama "regrets" sexual remarks to female Fuji TV employees
TOKYO - Japanese singer and actor Masaharu Fukuyama said he regrets sexual remarks made to female Fuji TV employees as revealed by a third-party panel on misconduct at the broadcaster, a weekly magazine published Monday reported. "I deeply regret it," the 56-year-old told Josei Seven magazine, referring to the remarks made at an event arranged by a former top official of Fuji TV, a subsidiary of Fuji Media Holdings Inc. The panel found the event was "inappropriate" in nature. The report was compiled in March in response to a scandal involving popular former TV host Masahiro Nakai's treatment of a female former employee. The report said the functions were arranged by former Managing Director Toru Ota once or twice a year since around 2005 and involved a "major male TV program participant." In the magazine interview, Fukuyama, who acknowledged he was the unnamed male, said, "I hope my apologies will reach those who were offended." According to the report, at least 19 female employees attended the gatherings over the years. One of the women described exchanges with Fukuyama as unpleasant and involving lewd comments. The panel hoped to hold an in-person hearing with Fukuyama but was only provided a written response to queries due to his busy schedule. Despite Fukuyama's expression of regret, the response said he has "never" made sexual comments and denied he asked inappropriate questions to the women. A Fuji TV official said on Monday, "We have not confirmed a report of harassment by Mr. Fukuyama." The panel's report found the female employee was subjected to sexual violence by Nakai in June 2023 "as an extension of her job." Nakai, who rose to prominence as a member of the now-defunct pop group SMAP, retired from show business after the allegations came to light. Fukuyama debuted as a singer in 1990 and became famous across Asia. Among his best-known songs is "Sakurazaka." "Like Father, Like Son," directed by Hirokazu Koreeda and starring Fukuyama, received the Prix du Jury at the 2013 Cannes International Film Festival.
Arab Times
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Japan's palace confirms former princess Mako has first baby
TOKYO, May 31, (AP): Former Japanese princess Mako Komuro has given birth to her first child, palace officials confirmed Friday, though they gave no details, saying she is no longer a royal member. The Imperial Household Agency said both the mother and child are in good health, but did not disclose the baby's date of birth or gender. The former princess, 33, is a niece of Emperor Naruhito. She married a former college classmate Kei Komuro, a commoner, and renounced her royal status in 2021 as required by Japan's Imperial House Law. Days after their marriage, the couple moved to New York where her husband works as a lawyer. Officials said that while the birth involved a former royal, the palace decided to publicly confirm the news after media reports earlier this month on the baby's arrival. They added that they hoped Mako would live in a quiet environment. Mako's parents, Crown Prince Akishino and his wife Kiko, and younger siblings - Princess Kako and Prince Hisahito - are delighted and wished Mako's family happiness, officials said. Japanese tabloid magazine Josei Seven recently published images of Mako and Kei Komuro seen walking with a baby stroller in a neighborhood of New York. Mako and her husband met at Tokyo's International Christian University. They announced in September 2017 their intention to marry the following year, but the wedding was suspended for four years due to a financial dispute involving Kei Komuro's mother. Due to the controversy, Mako also declined a dowry to which she was entitled for leaving the imperial family. Mako's loss of royal status comes from the Imperial House Law, which allows only male succession. The rule leaves only Akishino and his son Hisahito in line to succeed Naruhito. A government panel is discussing a more stable succession system, but conservatives reject female succession and only plan to allow female royals to help perform public duties after marriage.
30-05-2025
- Politics
Japan's palace confirms former princess Mako has first baby
TOKYO -- TOKYO (AP) — Former Japanese princess Mako Komuro has given birth to her first child, palace officials confirmed Friday, though they gave no details, saying she is no longer a royal member. The Imperial Household Agency said both the mother and child are in good health, but did not disclose the baby's date of birth or gender. The former princess, 33, is a niece of Emperor Naruhito. She married a former college classmate Kei Komuro, a commoner, and renounced her royal status in 2021 as required by Japan's Imperial House Law. Days after their marriage, the couple moved to New York where her husband works as a lawyer. Officials said that while the birth involved a former royal, the palace decided to publicly confirm the news after media reports earlier this month on the baby's arrival. They added that they hoped Mako would live in a quiet environment. Mako's parents, Crown Prince Akishino and his wife Kiko, and younger siblings — Princess Kako and Prince Hisahito — are delighted and wished Mako's family happiness, officials said. Japanese tabloid magazine Josei Seven recently published images of Mako and Kei Komuro seen walking with a baby stroller in a neighborhood of New York. Mako and her husband met at Tokyo's International Christian University. They announced in September 2017 their intention to marry the following year, but the wedding was suspended for four years due to a financial dispute involving Kei Komuro's mother. Due to the controversy, Mako also declined a dowry to which she was entitled for leaving the imperial family. Mako's loss of royal status comes from the Imperial House Law, which allows only male succession. The rule leaves only Akishino and his son Hisahito in line to succeed Naruhito. A government panel is discussing a more stable succession system, but conservatives reject female succession and only plan to allow female royals to help perform public duties after marriage.
