The Japanese network Fuji Television and its parent company say its president and chairperson are resigning immediately to take responsibility for a widening sex assault scandal linked to one of Japan’s top TV celebrities.

The Japanese government has pulled all four advertisements it has recently run on Fuji Television Network Inc., a major broadcaster a

Japanese magazines accused Masahiro Nakai, a TV host and leader of the former boy band SMAP, of sexual misconduct. Nakai has worked for Fuji TV and other broadcasters

Koichi Minato, president of Fuji Television, resigned with immediate effect, while Shuji Kano, chairman of both Fuji Television and its parent company, Fuji Media Holdings, also stepped down. Kenji Shimizu, executive vice-president of Fuji Media Holdings, will take over as president of the television network.

Fuji TV chairman Shuji Kano and president Koichi Minato stepped down to take responsibility for an alleged sexual assault by a TV host at a 2023 dinner that the Japanese network is alleged to helped organize.

TOKYO - The chairman and president of Japan’s Fuji Television resigned on Jan 27, weeks after a celebrity presenter and former pop star was accused of sexual assault. Criticism has mounted from advertisers and the public over the scandal, which centres around TV host and J-pop megastar Masahiro Nakai.