Jan 27 (NHK) - Leaders of Fuji Television announced their resignations on Monday amid growing pressure on the Japanese broadcaster over a major scandal involving a TV personality.
President Minato Koichi and chairman Kanoh Shuji told a news conference in Tokyo they would step down. The company held an emergency board meeting earlier in the day and discussed whether the executives remained fit to lead.
The scandal surfaced last month when weekly magazines reported that Nakai Masahiro, a former member of the now-disbanded pop idol group SMAP, got into "trouble" with a woman in 2023 and paid her a settlement.
The reports also said a Fuji TV employee played a role.
Executives, including Minato, were aware of the incident but continued to work and broadcast programs with Nakai for a year and a half.
Minato said at the news conference: "This case may involve a possible human rights violation. Looking back, we deeply regret that we failed to thoroughly examine issues believed to be behind this case, such as the nature of the dinner parties and gatherings with celebrities and related individuals."
The woman involved ended up needing a long period of recuperation and was unable to return to work as she had hoped, he said.
Minato said the company's response must have caused her deep disappointment, and he wants to meet with her to apologize.
Fuji TV held a news conference about the scandal earlier this month but limited the number of news outlets and did not allow TV cameras. Minato has since apologized, saying that the conference lacked transparency and accountability.
Widespread criticism has been growing in the public. Many companies suspended their ads on Fuji TV.
