Public statement or press release from Fuji Television Network Inc.

Fuji TV President Koichi Minato Launches Probe Into Nakai Scandal Since June 2023

Jan 17, 2025, 07:04 AM

Fuji Television Network Inc. has announced the establishment of an independent investigative committee led by external lawyers to probe allegations of employee involvement in a scandal involving TV personality Masahiro Nakai and a woman. The decision follows reports in weekly magazines that Fuji TV staff were implicated in setting up a dinner party that led to the incident. Koichi Minato, President of Fuji TV, apologized for the company's delay in addressing the issue and stated that the network had been aware of the problem since June 2023. Minato emphasized that the company prioritized the privacy and recovery of the woman involved, and did not immediately conduct a formal interview with Nakai to avoid compromising her privacy. The investigative committee will also examine whether the company's response to the incident was appropriate. Nakai, who acknowledged the trouble with the woman, had been hosting a variety show on Fuji TV, which was suspended following the reports.