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NHK
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NHK
Fuji TV third-party panel: Will no longer communicate with ex-TV star's side
A third-party panel set up by Fuji Television and its parent company says it will refrain from communicating with lawyers representing former TV personality Nakai Masahiro in the alleged sexual violence case, citing concerns over secondary damage to the victim. The panel said on Tuesday that it is also refusing again the lawyers' request to disclose evidence it had used to determine that Nakai had committed sexual violence against a former Fuji TV announcer. The panel went on to say that the views of both sides are far apart, adding that its members have found it difficult to bridge the gap. In a report released late March, the panel determined that the woman was subjected to sexual violence by Nakai while engaging in activities related to her work. Their finding was based on the definition of sexual violence by the World Health Organization. In mid-May, Nakai's lawyers requested that relevant evidence be disclosed. But the panel refused, arguing that the fact-finding process was appropriate and that it was under a confidentiality obligation to Fuji Television. On Friday, Nakai's legal team once again demanded that the panel disclose the evidence and provide an explanation, but were turned down in writing on Tuesday. Nakai was a member of the disbanded pop idol group SMAP. He became popular as a TV emcee and actor. He retired from show business in January, after a weekly magazine reported the scandal in December.
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.
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.
