Fuji TV plans to establish a probe panel with lawyers as member to investigate whether there is a culture of using female TV presenters at the broadcaster to entertain male celebrities, amid rising criticism over the broadcaster’s handling of alleged sexual misconduct by former SMAP member Masahiro Nakai, media reports said Friday.
The media conglomerate’s president, Koichi Minato, announced the move in the firm’s first news conference since the allegations against Nakai came to light in mid-December. Nakai has admitted to "trouble" with a woman without elaborating on details due to a confidentiality agreement with her.
Fuji TV has been in hot water since, especially after Dalton Investments sent a letter this week saying it is “outraged” by the “serious flaws” in the broadcaster’s corporate governance in relation to its handling of the recent uproar sparked by Nakai. Dalton is a major shareholder of Fuji Media Holdings, the holding company of the Japanese media conglomerate.
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