TV Networks Push Hearings Amid Masahiro Nakai’s Scandal

The television networks did not take it seriously.

Former SMAP member Masahiro Nakai has effectively been forced into an indefinite break from his activities.

In June of the year before last, a serious trouble arose involving a female entertainment industry person, X-ko, and Nakai allegedly paid 90 million yen through his representative to resolve it.

When this became public, Nakai’s regular TV and radio shows were either suspended, replaced, or had his appearances completely cut. Two CM clients also took down videos in advance.

Panicked, Nakai posted an apology on his official website on January 9th.

“It is also true that a settlement has been reached through both parties’ representatives, and the matter has been resolved.”

“As for the reports suggesting physical altercations, such as raising a hand, none of that is true. With the settlement, there will be no hindrance to continuing my entertainment activities moving forward.”

However, this did little to extinguish the fire, and Nakai completely disappeared from the public eye. According to sources from talent agencies:

“Nakai was bewildered by the fact that this settlement, which had been concluded, became public at this timing, and he was shocked to be so quickly shut out of the entertainment industry.”

Nakai’s scandal began to surface quietly around last autumn. At that point, TV networks and agencies began investigating, but since both Fuji TV and Nakai’s side suggested that the issue had already been resolved, they didn’t take it very seriously at first.

 

“To the TV networks, Nakai-san is a benefactor. Apart from Fuji TV, where the trouble originated, the rumors were at a level where it was difficult to ‘interrogate’ him. The key stations at that time never expected it to escalate this much,” said a TV station insider.

However, in December, as some media activity became more active and it seemed “it might come to light,” Fuji TV announced the March cancellation of Dareka to Nakai. At that point, it had already been decided that Junichi Okada would replace Tsuyoshi Muro as the host starting in the new year.

“It was something that was considered impossible in the industry,” 

Said the same TV station insider.

“When Women’s Seven reported the first news in mid-December, followed by Weekly Bunshun, TV station executives contacted other networks across the board and discussed future policies. Since it was around the end of the year, although the decision for the special year-end broadcasts was left up to each station, after the new year, they all agreed on the decision that ‘Nakai won’t be able to appear anymore,'” said another TV station insider.

At the same time, 

They also began working on protecting the credibility of the TV networks.

It would be problematic if the issue spread to the very nature of the TV networks.

In the case of the late Johnny Kitagawa’s sexual misconduct issue, major media outlets were criticized for overlooking the problem for years, as they showed deference to the former Johnny & Associates. Taking this as a lesson, the Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association (Minpōren) established a “Basic Stance on Human Rights,” confirming a strict approach to dealing with sexual issues.

According to some reports, TV networks will soon conduct direct interviews with Nakai.

However, Nakai has a confidentiality agreement with X-san, and he cannot reveal the details of the trouble without permission.

A sports newspaper entertainment reporter points out,

“In other words, the networks’ hearing of Nakai is just a formality. It is nothing more than an external gesture to show that the TV networks are taking the issue seriously.”

After Nakai admitted the issue on the 9th,

TBS’s “Sunday Japon” anchor,

Yasumi Yoshiwara, commented, “We at JNN will continue to cover this issue and, while fully considering the human rights and privacy of the involved woman, if there are facts to report, we will do so.”

At the same time, on Nippon TV’s news zero, Izumi Oguri, the network’s head of editorial,

“After interviewing Nakai’s side, we will carefully verify the facts and report what should be reported.” 

He stated.

“It’s just an appeal that we are proactively dealing with this issue. The problem itself is sensitive, and it has already been settled. Everyone on TV knows that they cannot report the details.”

The industry is already on a path to move on by cutting ties with Nakai. “It would be problematic if the relationship between female staff members and talent, or the nature of TV networks themselves, became part of the issue. Nakai’s case may be an exception, but every network has hosted dinners with influential sponsors or popular talent and invited female staff members as companions,” said a TV industry insider.

The Pandora’s box that briefly opened—will it be closed again?