Fuji TV Employee Reveals Key Timing of Hieda’s Resignation Ahead of Report

Until a culture of loyalty to Hieda and deference was established

Fuji TV continued to use Masahiro Nakai (52) on their program for a year and a half, despite having learned immediately afterward about the serious female-related trouble he was involved in.

Why did this happen? Was there an intention to cover it up? Did Fuji employees match the victim with Nakai? Were female announcers used as entertainment for him? Various suspicions are being investigated by an external committee, and a report is expected by the end of this month.

With sponsors fleeing one after another, and cooperation being refused at drama and variety shoot locations, how are the Fuji TV employees coping with these anxious and inconvenient days? Before the significant March 27th board of directors meeting, Friday Digital conducted an interview with a veteran employee, Mr. X.

— It has been reported that the victim sent a thank-you email to Nakai right after the trouble occurred, causing some controversy.

“What kind of trouble occurred between the victim and Nakai? Since that has not been clarified, I can’t say much, but  generally, in cases of sexual harassment, it is common for victims to send thank-you emails to the perpetrator afterward, such as via LINE.

It is not uncommon for victims to send such messages when they are shaken or thinking about future interactions. A thank-you does not equal consent. Usually, women who are shocked to the point of developing PTSD are not in a normal mental state. Nakai’s lawyer has admitted that a large sum of money was paid as a settlement. It’s clear that an abnormal situation occurred.”

As A stated, victims of sexual violence may not want to acknowledge what happened to them, or they may fear worsening their relationship with the perpetrator, who may hold a higher social status or power. For various reasons, they might exhibit behaviors that align with the perpetrator.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare pointed out the following in the “Guidelines for Psychological Stress-Induced Mental Disorders” issued in 2023 under the section on “Matters to Consider in Sexual Harassment Cases”:

“The victim of sexual harassment (hereinafter referred to as the victim) may, due to the desire to continue their employment or to minimize the impact of the harassment from the perpetrator (hereinafter referred to as the perpetrator), feel compelled to send emails or accept invitations that align with the perpetrator. However, these actions do not serve as a simple reason to deny that sexual harassment occurred.”

Why did Hisashi Hieda never attend the press conference?

“Because it was unrelated to this trouble. Mr. Hieda is an advisory director at Fuji Media Holdings and Fuji TV, and the rumors that he ‘still holds actual power at Fuji TV’ circulating in the public are false.

The problem is that Mr. Hieda still controls personnel decisions at Fuji TV, and this is the perception within the company. It’s undeniable that those who are close to him have advanced in their careers. Former President Koichi Minato (72) might not be certain in reality, but at least within the company, it’s believed that his rise to president was because he served Mr. Hieda.

Because of this perception within Fuji, a culture of loyalty to Mr. Hieda and acting in accordance with his wishes has been established. Those who don’t conform leave the company, while those who do remain.

Before Mr. Hieda takes any action, his loyal subordinates anticipate his moves and act in advance, preserving the old system and making it hard to create an atmosphere for trying new things. For example, the annual World Cultural Award (Takamatsu Prince Memorial World Cultural Award) has long been a project that Mr. Hieda is personally invested in. That’s why the employees have worked together, with great tension, to gather their strength for success.”