福山ふくやま雅治まさはる氏し フジ幹部かんぶがアナウンサーを同席どうせきさせた会合かいごうに出席しゅっせき

In response to a series of issues concerning Mr. Masahiro Nakai and his interactions with a former announcer, Fuji TV and its parent company established a third-party committee, which released an investigative report. On the 18th, the agency representing singer and actor Masaharu Fukuyama issued a statement on its website, acknowledging that a Fuji TV executive at the time attended a meeting where the announcer was also present.

The agency stated, We attended with the understanding that we were simply invited to a business dinner by a client.

In response to a series of issues concerning Masahiro Nakai and his interactions with a former female announcer, a third-party committee established by Fuji TV and its parent company reported in its investigation that, in a separate case, former Fuji TV executive Ryo Ohta had female announcers and female employees attend meetings with prominent program guests, and that testimonies were received stating that sexually explicit conversations took place between Ohta, the guests, and those present.

Fukuyamas agency released a statement on its website regarding the article published in the weekly magazine Josei Seven on the 18th, acknowledging that it was indeed Mr. Fukuyama who was present.

The agency stated, We attended the dinner with the understanding that it was merely a business meeting we were invited to, and added that they refrained from coming forward so that the content of the report would not lead to the identification or defamation of the participants in the meeting.

Regarding the part in the article that says I refused the investigation committees request for a hearing due to being busy, it is stated in the investigation report that it was difficult to attend an in-person hearing because I was filming, so I responded in writing. Therefore, I would like to clarify that there is absolutely no truth to the claim that I refused.

In the article, Mr. Fukuyama stated he is deeply remorseful. According to the investigation report by the third-party committee established by Fuji TV and its parent company, when they questioned certain influential male program participants who attended meetings organized by former executive Susumu Ota about whether they had ever requested female announcers to be invited or made any sexual remarks or questions, the written responses stated, There was absolutely nothing of the sort.

In an article published in a weekly magazine on the 18th, Mr. Fukuyama admitted that he had been approached for a hearing, and regarding his written response to the third-party committee, he said, My impression is that the questions could be interpreted in various ways.

I think the only possible answer to such a question is “absolutely not.”

If we were to provide more information than necessary from our side, there was a risk that the response would not align with the intended purpose of our statement, he explained.

Also, regarding the claim in the investigation report that Mr. Ota requested a female announcer to be present, it is stated that “if you look back at the exchanges, such wording did exist.”

And regarding the point that there are voices saying that sexual conversations were distressing, he said, I deeply regret it.

Even if the person who said it had no such intention, we should have been sensitive enough to realize that the listener might feel uncomfortable.

On his official X account, Mr. Fukuyama said, I feel very sorry. Masaharu Fukuyama stated on his official X that regarding his response to questions from Fuji TVs third-party committee, I cooperated with the intention that I should respond properly, but after careful discussions with my agency, considering the possibility of inquiries, identification, and slander against those involved, we decided that I should not come forward myself, so I refrained from making any announcements. He added, I feel very sorry for causing anxiety and concern to my fans.

Above all, please refrain from any acts of identifying or slandering those who bravely cooperated with the investigation, as such actions may hurt them.

He posted, Thank you for your understanding.