Fuji TV Vice Chairman to Resign over Nakai Scandal

Economy

Tokyo, Jan. 29 (Jiji Press)--Fuji Television Network Inc. Vice Chairman Ryunosuke Endo will resign to take the blame for losing sponsors for the Japanese broadcaster, which is under fire for improperly handling a sex scandal involving now-retired entertainer and TV host Masahiro Nakai, it was learned Wednesday.

Endo is expected to step down after a third-party panel releases in late March the result of its investigation into matters including the possible involvement of Fuji TV and its parent, Fuji Media Holdings Inc., in Nakai's trouble with a woman.

The departing executive served as Fuji TV president for two years before assuming his current post in June 2021. He has been head of the Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association since 2022 and has yet to decide whether to quit the post.

On Monday, Koichi Minato resigned as Fuji TV president and Shuji Kano as chairman of the broadcaster and the holding firm.

Since Minato held the first press conference over the scandal while shutting out TV cameras and prohibiting video shooting on Jan. 17, more than 70 companies have suspended commercials on the network citing insufficient explanations.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]

Jiji Press