<figure id="attachment_410872" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 4123px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-410872"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="e1eb450c"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/01/209b78b963f1509bd97af3f6c2aaf8f6.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-410872" class="wp-caption-text">Masahiro Nakai, who retired from the entertainment industry (left), and Hiroshi Ikushima, who announced an indefinite hiatus from his activities.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Behind Fuji TV&#8217;s redo press conference</h2>
On January 27, a press conference held by Fuji TV lasted over 10 hours, during which reporters asked sharp questions regarding Masahiro Nakai&#8217;s (52) trouble with a woman and the internal response at the station.
In the background, on the same day, TBS Radio announced that Hiroshi Ikushima (74), a freelance announcer, would be stepping down from his regular positions on two programs: &#8220;Ikushima Hiroshi no Ohayou Teishoku&#8221; and &#8220;Ikushima Hiroshi no Ohayou Icchokusen.&#8221;
Ikushima&#8217;s agency acknowledged the issues, stating:
“We acknowledge that there were acts such as harsh remarks towards the program production staff and the sending of inappropriate images published on the internet, and we recognize that a lack of awareness regarding power harassment and sexual harassment led to these incidents.&#8221;
They admitted to the facts of power harassment and sexual harassment and announced an indefinite suspension of his entertainment activities.
&#8220;Ikushima-san has been a valuable contributor to TBS. To announce his departure without an opportunity for clarification on the same day as the broadcast, especially when it&#8217;s not a criminal case, is something rarely heard of. This shows how seriously TBS took the issue,&#8221; said a sports newspaper reporter.
Amid the Nakai-Fuji TV issue, various TV networks conducted internal investigations. They are reportedly probing not only internal staff but also talent and staff relations with external partners to see if there have been any inappropriate relationships.
&#8220;On January 28, an ABC TV executive resigned after being caught misusing entertainment expenses. Both station staff and talent are extremely anxious about the ongoing investigations. It&#8217;s not just about sexual harassment, power harassment, or financial problems; the stations seem to be taking a thorough approach to rooting out any wrongdoing, using this moment as an opportunity to cleanse any misconduct. The rapid withdrawal of sponsors from Fuji TV has likely become a significant trauma for the company,&#8221; said a key network insider.
Meanwhile, former announcer-turned-YouTuber, Kanon Aoki, who gained attention for exposing past sexual abuse, made another new accusation.
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="The #MeToo Movement, which is engulfing the entertainment industry"></div>
<h2>&#8220;If the two of us have a meal together, there&#8217;s no way that&#8217;s all there is to it, right?&#8221;</h2>
Aoki revealed on X and YouTube that she had been sexually assaulted by a powerful person at Fuji TV, amid the turmoil surrounding the Nakai issue. While she didn&#8217;t reveal names to protect herself, she has already shared the information with contacts at newspapers.
On January 25, she confessed on X that she almost became a victim of sexual assault by a famous comedian. She revealed that the trigger for this incident was the Fuji TV scandal and hinted at the identity of the comedian to prevent rumors from spreading to the wrong person.
&#8220;After having a meal with a comedian who resembled a local mascot from western Japan, I declined, but he grabbed my arm and forcefully dragged me to a hotel. Just before the final moment, when I resisted seriously, he became upset and said, &#8216;I’m going home,&#8217; and released me. He also works in apparel.&#8221;
She revealed, and on the 27th, she added:
&#8220;To write a bit more in detail, in case the other party makes false counterarguments.&#8221;
And then continued with the sequence of events. The post makes it almost clear who the comedian is, so to summarize:
The comedian appeared as a guest on a program she was hosting, and afterward, invited her to a performance via direct message. Later, when they had a meal together, he allegedly said:
&#8220;You can&#8217;t expect just a meal with two people, can you? lol&#8221;
She declined, but he grabbed her arm, forced her into a taxi, and took her to a hotel, she revealed.
On X, the comedian was quickly identified, and many comments from general users began flooding in, asking, &#8220;What did this comedian do to Aoki Kana?&#8221; She is being teased with comments like, &#8220;Can we hear about Aoki’s story at the event on February 1st?&#8221;
This comedian had previously left their agency due to power harassment and other issues. If this becomes a case of attempted sexual assault, it could mark the end of their career. Especially with the recent Fuji TV scandal, any comedian with sexual allegations will no longer be invited to TV programs.
The old notion of womanizing is good for one&#8217;s art is now completely outdated. Talents who disregard women&#8217;s dignity are now being pushed out of the entertainment industry.
&#8220;Looking at the Nakai and Fuji TV issues, it&#8217;s clear that the TV industry and entertainment world often present opportunities for interactions between genders at drinking parties. In the past, acts of sexual harassment or power harassment were rampant during such times. With that, I don’t think industry professionals believe this issue will stay contained within Fuji TV. There will likely be more #MeToo-like revelations,&#8221; said an entertainment industry insider.
Nakai, once a national idol, was forced into retirement, and the popular announcer was suddenly dismissed. It’s clear that the entertainment industry is in turmoil.

 Kazuhiko Nakamura (Nakai), Afro (Ikushima)

 The entertainment industry is shaken by the Nakai-Fuji TV issue. On January 27, when the press conference was held, freelance announcer Hiroshi Ikushima admitted to sexual harassment and power harassment and was suspended indefinitely. As the TV stations proceeded with their internal investigations, ......

Showbiz on Edge After Sexual Harassment and Hotel Incident Expose

Access Ranking