Fuji TV’s Imminent Breakdown Crisis: What’s Behind the Alarm?

The president is lying

“If the press conference on January 27th goes poorly, Fuji TV might really end up being dismantled.”

This was said by a Fuji TV employee in their 40s involved in the production of variety shows.

After the revelation of the 900 million yen trouble between Masahiro Nakai (52) and a woman, Fuji TV’s response has been so chaotic that the suspension of advertisements from over 75 sponsor companies continues. In an extraordinary board meeting on January 23rd, Fuji TV decided to establish an independent third-party committee based on guidelines from the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA), which will propose a report with specific recommendations by the end of March.

However, as of now, for the sponsor contracts in the April to September 2025 period, most companies have held off on making decisions, with some even withdrawing. The revenue loss is said to be as much as 30 billion yen. The employee continues:

“Right now, almost no program production for the April period and beyond is taking place. We are unable to request work from production companies. The third-party committee’s recommendations are due at the end of March. If sponsors haven’t returned by then, how are they planning to continue production? Are they planning to just run reruns across all time slots? In the employee briefing on January 23rd, President Koichi Minato (72) said, ‘We have reserves, so we’re fine,’ but subcontracted production companies can’t hold out that long.”

Regarding a report in Josei Jishin on December 19th about Fuji TV executive A introducing Nakai and the female victim, the company denied:

“The employee had no involvement, including in setting up the meeting.”

This led some employees to declare, “The president is lying,” but most felt, “Since the president said so, it must not be involved.”

 

Who are they trying to explain themselves to, and what are they trying to justify?

“President Minato is a legendary figure who supported Fuji TV’s golden era of variety shows, a time when employees in the variety department would say, ‘If it’s not fun, it’s not Fuji TV.’ Even after becoming president, he was active in promoting reforms, such as establishing a suggestion box to hear from lower-level employees. I’ve heard that many employees admired his character” (a person involved in variety show production).

The aforementioned employee also held a similar image of President Minato and believed, “Since the president denied it, A really had no involvement.” However, at the press conference on January 17, suspicions regarding the management and A’s involvement grew even stronger.

“From the start, when a major media company like Fuji TV decided to allow only a few media outlets into the press conference, the office buzzed with ‘Why?’ and ‘Do they have something they don’t want to be asked about?’ The anxiety spread quickly. Then, during the conference, President Minato made a statement showing sympathy for the victim, but he once again denied A’s involvement. Yet, he announced the establishment of a non-independent investigative committee. It didn’t add up; everything seemed contradictory. I have no idea who President Minato is trying to explain himself to. At the very least, it felt like he wasn’t considering us, the employees” (the previous employee).

At the employee briefing on January 23, the questions directed at the management turned into firm doubts.

“President Minato kept saying, ‘I can’t talk about it because it’s part of the third-party committee’s investigation.’ He repeatedly said, ‘It’s my responsibility,’ but the truth is, everyone involved in management, from Hisashi Hieda of the Fujisankei Group (87) on down, shares responsibility. Hieda has never shown up, not even issuing a comment, and I can only assume there’s a reason he can’t appear” (the previous employee).

Additionally, another employee in their 50s shared this story.

 

There is no option for Representative Hieda not to appear

“Regarding the comment Fuji TV issued at the end of last year, I’ve heard that within the management, there were some who thought, ‘It’s inevitable that we’ll be accused of covering things up. We should just admit all the mistakes made at the start and A’s involvement and properly apologize.’ However, they were strongly opposed by those who said, ‘If we admit it, Fuji TV will be finished.’ It seems they were ultimately swayed by that opinion. The only person who could make the final decision, under normal circumstances, is Representative Hieda.”

At the press conference scheduled for January 27, it is expected that TV cameras will be allowed in, and media attendance will not be restricted. However, Representative Hieda’s name is not listed among the expected attendees from management.

“It seems the executives still cannot face the reality of the situation. There is no option for Representative Hieda not to appear. What the public wants to hear is his direct voice. We, the employees, feel the same. Most likely, whatever questions are asked, President Minato will just say, ‘It’s up to the third-party committee,’ and won’t answer anything. The management needs to take a broader perspective.”

“Did Fuji TV lie? Was there an intention to cover up the trouble? Was A involved? We want honest answers to all these questions and for them to admit that ‘Fuji TV made a wrong judgment’ and apologize for it. We want to hear that from Representative Hieda” (the previous employee in their 50s).

What the management will say at the January 27 press conference is something the entire nation is paying attention to.