The Generation Gap Widens: Why Even Masaharu Fukuyama Can’t Bridge It, According to Experts on Women in Their 20s

Fukuyama and Takaaki Ishibashi were both anonymous, but now their names are mentioned

The name of artist and actor Masaharu Fukuyama (56) is now being widely discussed.

The issue stems from a series of problems at Fuji TV, triggered by the scandal involving former entertainer Masahiro Nakai (53). According to Josei Seven (Sept. 4 issue), the third-party committee’s report included a reference that pointed to Fukuyama. The magazine reported that then–Fuji TV executive Ryo Ohta

“Had female announcers and female employees attend gatherings with certain prominent male program performers with whom he was on close terms.”

Furthermore,

“There were many who said that conversations at those gatherings between Ohta and the program performer in question included so-called dirty jokes and sexually explicit content, and that they found it unpleasant.”

The prominent male performer referred to here was Fukuyama.

Fukuyama responded in an interview with the magazine, offering clarification and an apology. On the same day, his agency Amuse also released an official statement.

The company revealed:

“This past March, the third-party committee requested Masaharu Fukuyama’s cooperation for a hearing.”

And explained:

“It is true that he attended a social gathering hosted by Mr. Ohta, but he did so under the understanding that it was a work-related dinner to which he had been invited. There was no involvement in the kinds of problems being discussed in relation to Fuji TV.”

In the broader Fuji TV scandal, Nakai’s sexual trouble with former female announcer X-ko came to light, leading him to retire from the entertainment industry. In addition, although anonymized in the report, Takaaki Ishibashi of Tunnels admitted to indecent conduct during a past dinner with women and issued an apology.

An executive from a talent agency commented:

“In the third-party committee’s report, the only entertainer named outright was Nakai. Ishibashi and Fukuyama were anonymous, but their identities came out anyway. I’ve heard that Fuji’s internal hearings with staff also produced the names of several other talents and comedians. They must be living in fear right about now.”

Of course, the cases of Nakai and Fukuyama must be considered separately.

On the one hand, Nakai’s case involves suspicions of sexual assault against Ms. X, while on the other, Fukuyama’s issue concerns inappropriate remarks at drinking gatherings. In his interview with Josei Seven, Fukuyama stated that he had not realized the women present were uncomfortable, and he repeatedly expressed deep regret and offered apologies.

“Mr. Ryo Ohta has been hosting gatherings around Fukuyama for about 20 years, and many female announcers were brought in. In the early days, the women themselves were enthusiastic about joining, since it gave them a chance to get closer to Fukuyama. Some even went so far as to match his risqué jokes with bold stories of their own. The shift began just before the COVID-19 pandemic. For female announcers in their twenties, Fukuyama is nearly the same age as their fathers. That generational gap definitely played a role.” (Entertainment industry insider)

What would have been a gap moe when she was young

In Nakai’s case, some voices attempted to frame the issue as a romantic matter. Ms. X strongly pushed back, declaring:

“I have absolutely zero romantic feelings for someone old enough to be my father!”

An entertainment reporter for a sports newspaper pointed out:

“The term romantic matter started circulating on its own, which led to Ms. X being subjected to slander. But if you look at Fukuyama’s case, the age barrier clearly exists. Ironically, Nakai’s side insisting it was a romantic matter has only become a weaker argument.”

Even Fukuyama could not overcome the age barrier. Marriage and relationship commentator Hiromi Ikeuchi, who has handled more than 38,000 consultations regarding relationship troubles, called it a case of a typical older man’s misunderstanding,

and explained women’s feelings this way:

“When a huge star like Fukuyama, who’s also considered handsome, told dirty jokes back in the day, it could even be seen as a kind of gap-moe. People would say, ‘Oh, he’s not pretentious, he’s friendly.’ But I don’t think Fukuyama or Nakai realized that they had become men in their late 40s and 50s.

If they use the same banter with women in their twenties now, it just comes across as creepy. To a woman in her twenties, hearing sexual jokes from a man her father’s age, even without an invitation, feels like, ‘He’s seeing me as a woman.’ That’s not paranoia—what it really signals is, ‘I’m still a man.’ And that makes young women feel uncomfortable.”

Ikeuchi also stressed that a shift in how young women think today plays a major role:

“When my generation was in our twenties, we were, in a sense, untouchable. If a manager or company president made a sexual joke, we’d bluntly say, ‘Stop it, that’s vulgar,’ or sometimes all the women would just ignore him and shut it down right there. But today’s women in their twenties feel a strong sense that they must not ‘ruin the atmosphere.’

They don’t want to be labeled as disagreeable or strong-willed. So they put on a polite front and don’t object in the moment. But later, they may take it to a compliance office or labor bureau. Since they smile through it in the moment, the men making the comments think, ‘They seemed to be enjoying it.’ What they don’t realize is that the women actually felt uncomfortable. Smiling or not objecting on the spot does not mean it was well-received or that dirty jokes are acceptable. Men in their 50s and 60s—the so-called ‘older generation’—need to understand that.”

This is a warning not only for the television and entertainment industries, but also for ordinary workplaces, where some bosses still make inappropriate jokes without considering generational gaps. If even Fukuyama couldn’t adapt to the changing times, then no one should assume they are immune.