Top brass at Japanese network giant Fuji Television and its parent company have stepped down following allegations involving Masahiro Nakai.

The spiralling controversy involves Masahiro Nakai, the 52-year-old media personality who was the leader of defunct male idol group Smap, and mainstream broadcaster Fuji Television. It also highlights the growing role that foreign activist shareholders are playing in compelling change in stuffy Japanese boardrooms.

The president and chairperson are out after complaints of a lack of transparency surrounding Masahiro Nakai in Japan

Japanese TV host Masahiro Nakai, who was a member of the former pop group SMAP, said Thursday he has retired from show business follo

The allegations concern a 2023 encounter with a woman that involved a closed-door setting and a “sexual act against her will”. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The 52-year-old former SMAP member said his contracts had been wound up, and that negotiations with sponsors were in progress.

Japanese TV network Fuji faces mass advertiser exodus after allegations of covering up sexual assault claims against host Masahiro Nakai of SMAP fame.