<figure id="attachment_409571" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1134px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-409571"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="679dc1b4"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/01/b86f5f261a75f9001fe4711ad122bef4.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-409571" class="wp-caption-text">Kyoko Sasaki, the announcer who had been consulted by the victim woman.</figcaption></figure>
&#8220;She didn&#8217;t consult A-san about this.&#8221;
Kyoko Sasaki (52), the announcer, reportedly said this to the victim woman, X-ko, who had been harmed by the celebrity Masahiro Nakai (52).
This was reported in the January 8 issue of Weekly Bunshun. A-san refers to a Fuji TV executive who, according to some reports, indirectly arranged the dinner meeting between Nakai and X-ko.
The meaning of this statement sheds light on the underlying issue of this controversy, which has involved Fuji TV.
Before diving deeper, let’s look back at the chain of events. In June of the year before last, Nakai reportedly faced a serious issue with X-ko and paid a settlement through a representative. When this came to light, two commercials, six regular TV and radio programs were replaced, broadcasting was suspended, and his appearance scenes were completely cut.
<h2>There was absolutely no sexual reception or anything like that</h2>
Additionally, a suspicion has arisen that Fuji TV has been offering female employees talent for many years. The individual who was reported as the attendant in this context was A-san. In the issue of Bunshun released on the 16th, a female announcer from Fuji TV revealed anonymously:
&#8220;I too was offered to A-san.&#8221;
She made a shocking confession.
With sponsors distancing themselves, Fuji TV President Koichi Minato held a press conference on the 17th. While he denied A-san&#8217;s involvement in the trouble between Nakai and X-ko, he limited his comment on the tribute system, stating:
&#8220;I do not believe that there were any sexual receptions or anything like what has been reported in weekly magazines.&#8221;
At the same time, he explained that he was aware of the trouble between Nakai and X-ko:
&#8220;I became aware of it in early June 2023.&#8221;
Despite this, regarding Nakai&#8217;s continued appearance on programs,
&#8220;We prioritized respecting the woman&#8217;s wish to return to work without others knowing, focusing on her physical and mental recovery and privacy protection.&#8221;
He stated.
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="The snarky structure of &quot;it's hard to say no to a dinner meeting&quot; is ......"></div>
<h2>Since the middle of this month, when the situation became more serious, she has been suspended from attending work.</h2>
The situation has now escalated beyond just Nakai’s personal trouble, and Fuji TV’s governance is being questioned. A current Fuji TV staff member explains the true meaning behind Announcer Sasaki’s words at the beginning.
&#8220;A-san is the head of Fuji&#8217;s programming department, and his influence is enormous. He built trust with top industry figures like Nakai and Matsumoto Hitoshi, and rose through the ranks. If a problem with Nakai, one of his wings, reaches A-san, it could have a negative impact on the future of staff members. So, Announcer Sasaki said, ‘I didn’t consult A-san about this.’ It seems that this wasn’t about concealment, but rather consideration.&#8221;
However, Sasaki’s thought process itself represents the deep-rooted nature of the problem.
&#8220;A-san&#8217;s absolute influence in the production world is evident. If you’re avoided by A-san, you won’t receive big jobs. Therefore, it&#8217;s difficult to turn down invitations for meals. I believe this distorted structure has led some to describe it as the tribute system&#8221; (same Fuji TV staff member).
At the time Nakai&#8217;s trouble was reported in late last month, A-san, at the center of the controversy, was reportedly
&#8220;He was working as usual&#8221; (same Fuji TV staff member).
However, since the situation became more serious in the middle of this month, he has reportedly been suspended from attending work.
Announcer Sasaki has also not been coming to work recently, and rumors have circulated that she, like A-san, has been suspended from attending work. A different Fuji staff member adds:
&#8220;It&#8217;s unfortunate to compare A-san and Announcer Sasaki. Criticism of A-san is growing within the station, but there’s hardly any directed at Sasaki. If there’s any fault, it would be that Sasaki, too, was poisoned by Fuji’s unique, bad culture. She is a smart person, so I’m sure she regrets it.&#8221;
At Fuji TV, dissatisfaction with the upper management’s failure to take responsibility is growing, especially among female announcers. The scenes where station announcers criticize their own station in news programs are a prime example. Fuji has completely fallen into dysfunction.
It’s unfortunate for the earnest staff members who are truly dedicated to their work.

 Naoki Shimizu

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