Latest news with #KenjiShimizu
Japan Forward
3 days ago
- Business
- Japan Forward
Fuji Media Turns to Shimizu for Post-Scandal Overhaul
このページを 日本語 で読む Fuji Media Holdings (FMH) new president, Kenji Shimizu, is pledging sweeping reforms to restore trust and reinvent the business after an industry scandal earlier this year. The network was rocked in January by a scandal involving former pop idol Masahiro Nakai, which exposed an opaque corporate culture at Fuji TV Fuji's initial closed-door handling of the misconduct allegations drew intense public criticism, forcing an open apology and a third-party probe into the company's governance. The fallout prompted a broad shake-up of Fuji's leadership and internal policies, including the resignation of top executives and the appointment of Shimizu as president to lead an urgent reform effort In a candid interview with The Sankei Shimbun , Shimizu, set to take over as president of FMH on June 25, acknowledged deep-rooted issues at the heart of recent scandals. He outlined a reform agenda aimed at restoring trust and revitalizing Fuji's content business. At the core of the recent problems, said Shimizu, was the "rigidity and homogeneity" in Fuji's personnel system. Over time, this led to an environment where "no one could speak up, even when they sensed something was wrong." He pointed to structural reforms already underway, including a reconstituted board with a majority of independent outside directors and a higher ratio of women. These, he said, would significantly improve governance transparency. When asked about the lingering influence of Hisashi Hieda, the former chairman who served for over 40 years on the board, Shimizu dismissed concerns. "There is absolutely no influence from Mr Hieda on the new leadership team," he affirmed. He added that Fuji has introduced stricter retirement policies and abolished its advisor system to ensure board independence. Kenji Shimizu, President of Fuji TV, during an interview (©Sankei by Yasuhiro Yajima). On the decision to reject a shareholder proposal from the American investment fund Dalton Investments, Shimizu said the company conducted interviews with all director candidates, including those proposed by Dalton, and applied the same selection process. "We saw no reason to increase the board size or change direction. The current team offers both balance and effectiveness." Asked whether profits from Fuji's real estate division have led to complacency in the media arm, Shimizu defended the group's strategy. The real estate and tourism businesses have evolved dramatically, he noted. But the real issue is the "low profitability of media content," which he intends to address head-on. Reflecting on past missteps, Shimizu admitted that Fuji "hasn't done enough to monetize its content." He said the company needs to move away from planning shows just for TV broadcast and start designing projects with broader revenue streams in mind, from streaming and theatrical releases to merchandising and gaming. "If we stop assuming terrestrial TV is the default outlet, our creative horizons will widen." Shimizu emphasized that his ultimate goal as president is for Fuji to grow while contributing to society. "Profit is just a means," he said. "A company that doesn't help solve social problems or improve something has no reason to exist." Drawing on his background in anime production, Shimizu said he never saw animation as something just for children. "Kids are sharp," he explained. "They don't fall for cheap tricks. They evaluate entertainment honestly." Producing Dragon Ball and Chibi Maruko-chan, he said, taught him valuable lessons about pacing, emotional storytelling, and understanding an audience. He recalled how Dragon Ball captivated viewers with its explosive speed — "a new villain appears, and by the next panel, he's already sliced down." With Chibi Maruko-chan, the challenge was entirely different: bringing to life a still world frozen in the psychological landscape of author Momoko Sakura. To preserve that vision, he built a writing team of women from the same generation as Sakura. Shimizu also discussed managing the fallout of the recent scandal. Fuji has done everything possible to avoid passing costs onto its affiliates or production partners, he noted. Even when sponsors pulled out, Fuji continued to fully fund production. "Supporting our partners and stakeholders is a responsibility we won't compromise on," he said. Interview by Katsutoshi Takagi Author: The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
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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.
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.
