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Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Actor Masaharu Fukuyama ‘regrets' sexual remarks to female Fuji TV employees
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox TOKYO - Renowned Japanese singer-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 on Aug 18. Fukuyama, who holds the sales record for singles and albums as a solo male artiste 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, 56, 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. 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 programme participant'. In the magazine interview, Fukuyama, who acknowledged he was the participant, said: 'I hope my apologies will reach those who were offended.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Two China Eastern Airlines planes involved in runway incursion at Changi Airport in Aug 2024 Life Local indie theatre The Projector to cease operations on Aug 19 after a decade Singapore 'I vaped when I woke up until I slept': More youth vaping to cope with stress, say social workers Asia Singaporean man sentenced to 72 years' jail in Malaysia for murdering wife and stepson Singapore 4 days' jail for former pre-school teacher who kicked and bruised pupil's shin Life Disrupted sleep, steroid psychosis: How chronic sinus condition affected one S'pore hawker's life World Trump's art of the 'peace' deal for Ukraine and Russia 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 Aug 18 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, 53, in June 2023 'as an extension of her job'. Nakai, who rose to prominence as a member of the now-defunct J-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 Sakura Zaka (2000). 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 after starring in Japanese TV series such as Under The Same Roof (1993 to 1997) and Galileo (2007 to 2013). He also starred in Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda's film Like Father, Like Son (2013), which received the Jury Prize at the 2013 Cannes International Film Festival. KYODO NEWS
Japan Today
18 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
a day 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
a day 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.
Asahi Shimbun
30-07-2025
- Automotive
- Asahi Shimbun
Toyota resumes ads on Fuji TV after scandal fallout subsides
Fuji Television Network Inc.'s poor handling of sexual abuse allegations against a celebrity involving its newscaster triggered a mass exodus of corporate sponsors from the broadcaster. (Asahi Shimbun file photo) Toyota Motor Corp. has resumed airing commercials on Fuji Television Network Inc. for the first time since suspending them in January, following a sex scandal involving a celebrity associated with the broadcaster. The automaker confirmed on July 29 that its commercials began airing again in late July during Fuji TV's late-night news program "FNN Live News Alfa." Toyota stated that advertisements would be placed in ways approved by its customers and stakeholders. The company did not clarify whether ads would return to other time slots or programs. The withdrawal of major advertisers from Fuji TV began earlier this year following allegations that renowned talk show host Masahiro Nakai sexually abused a Fuji TV news presenter. The scandal sparked a widespread public backlash directed not only at Nakai but also at Fuji TV employees and executives involved, raising questions about the network's governance and crisis management. Consumer goods giant Kao Corp. also announced plans to resume commercials on Fuji TV beginning Oct. 1. Ads are scheduled to return to programs including "Sun! Shine" and "Nep League," as well as the network's Monday 9 p.m. drama slot. Kao explained that its decision was based on sufficient progress made by the broadcaster in addressing the issue, including compensation to the victim, measures to prevent a recurrence, governance reforms and increased transparency. Major food company Meiji Co. will also return to Fuji's commercial lineup, starting Aug. 1 across two programs. The company cited notable corporate reforms and leadership changes as the reason for its renewed confidence in the network. With the industry leaders resuming advertising, momentum may build for other companies to follow suit. (This article was written by Kaname Ohira, Masaki Hashida and Kenro Kuroda.)
