Fuji TV Probes “Hyatt Drinking” But No Inquiry Into Masahiro Nakai
Some people were interviewed for more than an hour
In the Fuji TV scandal stemming from former entertainer Masahiro Nakai’s (52) female troubles, the commitment of the third-party committee is being questioned.
On January 23, Nakai retired from the entertainment industry, and his paid fan club site “Nakai Zura Ano Ko-tachi ni” was officially shut down at 11:59 PM on February 19. On the same day, a 1-minute 40-second final video was released to fans.
The video consisted of an animated part and a live-action part. The animated segment featured characters Nakai had previously played, such as “SMAP×SMAP”‘s Marbo and Keisan Mako-chan, “Sata☆Sma”‘s Otsukai Mar-kun (both Fuji TV productions), and Chokozai from the TBS drama “ATARU.” These characters eventually floated away in soap bubbles and disappeared. In the live-action segment, Nakai’s face was not shown, but he was seen waving toward the sun, clenching his fist once, then opening it again before the video ended.
Fans have been speculating on the meaning of this final message. Some interpret the scene of the characters vanishing in bubbles as a sign of a “complete retirement,” while others believe the fist gesture, resembling Nakai’s movements in the final episode of “SMAP×SMAP,” suggests a “see you again someday” message.
“Either way, the production was well thought out, which shows that Nakai carefully prepared it for his fans. A production company handled the video, but Nakai himself likely approved the final cut and requested detailed adjustments. Although he seemed disheartened by recent reports, he may have already moved past his lowest point. Many fans are expressing relief,” said a sports newspaper journalist.
Amidst the Fuji TV controversy, the third-party committee continues to interview station employees and external parties. Interview durations vary, with some lasting only a few minutes and others extending beyond an hour. Naturally, Nakai should be a key figure in the investigation.
