Fuji TV Furious at Hasegawa Yutaka – Kato-pan Caught in the Fallout

“Hase, that’s just how it is.”

“Not him again.”

A current Fuji TV employee muttered in exasperation.

The source of their frustration is former Fuji TV announcer Yutaka Hasegawa (49). A video featuring Hasegawa and entrepreneur Takafumi Horie (52), discussing the recent Fuji TV controversies, has surpassed an astonishing 5 million views as of February 4.

In the video, Hasegawa directly addressed the alleged tribute culture sparked by former talent Masahiro Nakai’s (52) scandal, affirming its existence. He further claimed that he himself had once been “offered” to talent Osugi during a dinner related to his program Tokudane! (Fuji TV).

According to Hasegawa, after the meal, announcers Shinsuke Kasai and Kyoko Sasaki left first, without waiting for Osugi, and exchanged the following remarks:

Kasai: “Hase, that’s just how it is.”

Sasaki: “Consider it the dinner fee.”

Hasegawa then alleged that while riding the elevator with Osugi afterward, he was subjected to an intense kiss.

As this revelation gained traction, Kasai, one of the individuals named, took to his blog to deny the claims outright. After contacting Sasaki, he stated that he had no memory of dining with Osugi and firmly refuted the allegations, writing:

“I can completely deny the existence of any tribute system.”

“He must be misremembering something.”

He also wrote that he had no recollection of having dinner with Osugi.

In response, Hasegawa claimed that he has kept a diary since he was 16, and that he has entries detailing the incident. On X, he posted:

“I think this is probably how the distortions started in my old workplace. Those who teased, bullied, or laughed blend it into their daily life and forget about it. But those who were on the receiving end will never forget.”

According to the Fuji TV employee mentioned at the beginning:

“Hasegawa’s story is really nothing but a nuisance. It’s a no-go topic inside the company. I believe the higher-ups are incredibly angry about it.”

The video, which lasts about 55 minutes, only briefly touches on the incident with Osugi, and Hasegawa himself isn’t claiming to be a victim now. Instead, as a former employee, he is speaking out about the abnormal corporate culture at Fuji TV and the outdated atmosphere, offering some interesting insights into the inner workings of the company.

The video is about 55 minutes long. The incident with Osugi is only part of the story, and Hasegawa himself is not complaining about the damage now. As a former alumnus, he testifies to Fuji’s abnormal corporate culture and sense of anachronism, and there are some interesting aspects of the station’s internal affairs.

It would also be disrespectful to the late Tomoaki Ogura

However, regardless of his intentions, the conversation has spiraled out of control on social media, with clips and articles being widely shared. The portion about Osugi being offered and another claim regarding the late Tomoaki Ogura, who passed away last year, in which Hasegawa allegedly stated that Ogura licked Sasaki’s ear multiple times, have become the main focus.

The earlier Fuji TV employee shared their thoughts:

“In today’s age, the most eye-catching parts get clipped out. I feel bad for Kyoko Sasaki (the announcer) who was mentioned unfairly. I heard that she was deeply hurt by being labeled one of the three bad people at Fuji in some circles, and her health has deteriorated because of it. It’s also disrespectful to the late Tomoaki Ogura. Hasegawa should be grateful to him for all the help he received while Ogura was alive.”

When the whole scandal broke, Hasegawa quickly stepped forward to speak out about the company’s internal matters, which greatly upset Fuji TV. As a former employee, he probably intended to express concern about his old workplace’s struggles and show support for innocent staff members, but inside the company, there’s a growing sentiment of:

“What he’s doing is only adding fuel to the fire. What on earth is he thinking?”

The video also mentions former Fuji TV announcers Aya Takashima and Ayako Kato, which has caused them trouble as well. According to a sports newspaper reporter:

“This is also an unfortunate collateral accident. Especially for Ayako Kato, who gave birth to her first child on December 29, 2023, and is now focused on raising her child. She prioritizes her family over work, so revisiting old episodes at this time must be something she doesn’t want.”

Hasegawa’s revelations, driven by a sense of righteous anger, seem to have only escalated the situation. Fuji TV is now considering issuing a renewed warning regarding unverified information circulating inside the company.

Pandora’s box has been opened, and it seems it will take much more time before things settle down.