Toyota Motor and other large Japanese companies are suspending commercials on Fuji Television one after another due to allegations of sexual favors for entertainers involving executives of Japanese broadcaster Fuji Television. The decision is made based on the judgment that it could deal a blow to the company’s image.
According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on the 20th, at least 15 companies, including Toyota, Nippon Life Insurance, NTT East Japan, Kao, Seven & I, and Nissan Motor, have suspended CMs airing on Fuji TV until this day. All of them are in response to reports that “Fuji TV staff intervened” over the issue of sexual favors for Masahiro Nakai, a former Japanese male idol and actor.
Japan’s McDonald’s Corp., which suspended commercial advertising, said the decision was made based on a series of reports and Fuji Television’s announcement. Nihon Keizai said, “It appears that the decision could deal a blow to the company’s image if CM continues.”
Recently, a female announcer of Fuji TV revealed to weekly magazine Shukanbunshun, “I almost got paid by another male entertainer through A, the head of the programming department.” Earlier, Shukanbunshun reported that a female staff member of Fuji TV had been paid by Nakai. When a female staff member complained to Fuji TV, she received 90 million yen from Nakai.
Nakai later issued an apology on its official website, saying, “It is true that there was a problem. It is all because of my lack of ability.” Regarding the report, Nakai partially denied, saying, “There are things that are different from the truth.”
Dalton Investment, a major shareholder of Fuji Media Holdings, the parent company of Fuji TV, told the board of directors on the 14th, “The recent series of events is not just a problem in the entertainment industry, but it reveals serious defects in corporate governance.”
Fuji Television President Koichi Minato apologized at a press conference on the 17th. Regarding his earlier denial of allegations that a Fuji Television employee was involved, he said, “It is based on what I heard from him and the communication records.” He declined to answer, saying, “I want to leave it to the investigation.”
SOPHIA KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
