Masahiro Nakai #

Introduction #

Masahiro Nakai is a Japanese television presenter and former singer who rose to fame as the leader of the boy band SMAP and went on to become one of Japan’s best-known TV hosts. On 23 January 2025 he announced his retirement from the entertainment industry, stating: “I, Masahiro Nakai, will retire from entertainment activities as of today.” The announcement followed reports, first published by weekly magazines in December, of a sexual-misconduct incident involving a woman at a dinner gathering in June 2023. Nakai admitted that “trouble” had occurred and said the matter had been resolved through a settlement, while denying reports that a Fuji Television executive had been involved. The BBC reported that he was retiring after a “sexual assault allegation that has rocked the country’s entertainment industry”. No criminal charges were reported.

Background Information #

Nakai was born in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, and belonged to the Johnny and Associates talent agency, where he became leader of the idol group SMAP, formed in 1988. The group became one of Asia’s most successful acts, releasing more than 50 singles — many of them chart toppers — and launching a weekly prime-time variety show. SMAP disbanded in December 2016, after which Nakai built a career as a television host and became one of the wealthiest celebrities in Japan; he went independent from the agency in April 2020 and continued to work mainly as a variety show host. The industry was already under scrutiny: in 2023, Johnny & Associates admitted that its late founder, Johnny Kitagawa, had for decades sexually assaulted teenage boys and young men.

The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation #

In December, weekly magazines reported that a sex-related incident had occurred after Nakai and a woman found themselves the lone participants at a dinner party in June 2023. The Straits Times reported that Nakai had paid an unnamed woman a lump sum of 90 million yen, and that the allegations concerned a 2023 encounter which the tabloid Shukan Bunshun said involved a closed-door setting and a “sexual act against her will”. The BBC reported that Nakai was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a 2023 dinner party held by staff. Shukan Bunshun and other outlets alleged that a Fuji TV executive had been involved in organising the meeting; Fuji TV denied those claims, and Nakai also denied reports of executive involvement. On 9 January, Nakai said in a statement that a settlement had been reached and that he had “resolved” the matter with the woman. He said some of what had been reported was “different from the facts”, that he had been quiet due to confidentiality obligations, and that a settlement had been reached “through the agents of both sides”. A lawyer representing Nakai said: “The details of the trouble are protected between the parties involved.”

Public Reaction and Consequences #

The settlement did little to quell public anger. In January, Fuji Television suspended the weekly show hosted by Nakai and other major networks dropped him, while broadcasters deleted scenes featuring him from their programs and his appearances were scrubbed from programmes. Dozens of companies pulled their commercials from Fuji Television amid claims that the company’s staff had tried to cover up the scandal, with Nissan, Toyota, Seven & I and McDonald’s among the brands announcing withdrawals. An American activist investor said it was “outraged” by the broadcaster’s lack of transparency. On 23 January, Nakai announced his retirement, saying he had “completed all discussions with TV stations, radio broadcasters and sponsors regarding my termination, cancellation, removal and contract annulment”, that he would “continue to face up to all problems sincerely and respond in a wholehearted manner”, and: “I alone am responsible for everything.” In a statement quoted by the BBC, he said he was “truly sorry for causing trouble and losses to so many people” and: “I’m really, really sorry for saying good-bye this way.”

Current Status #

Nakai is retired from entertainment as of 23 January 2025 and has said he will close his management company at the conclusion of remaining procedures and operations. In his retirement statement he said: “I do not believe that I have fulfilled all of my responsibilities. I will continue to face various issues sincerely and deal with them in good faith,” adding: “The entire responsibility lies with me personally. I am very sorry that I have caused so much trouble and loss to so many people.” Addressing the woman at the dinner party, he said: “Once again, I would like to extend my sincerest apologies to the other party as well.” No criminal charges have been reported in connection with the incident, and it remains unclear what exactly happened at the dinner party. Fuji Television, meanwhile, was expected to set up an independent committee to investigate the scandal.

Impact on Their Career/Life #

The retirement removed Nakai from Japanese television after more than three decades in the public eye, ending his run as a regular presence on multiple networks within weeks of the December reports. The case also intensified scrutiny of Japan’s entertainment industry, which has faced a broader reckoning over sexual assault since the Kitagawa revelations. Other TV channels announced their own investigations into whether similar events between celebrities and women had been organised, with Nippon TV saying it would examine “whether there were any ‘inappropriate sexual contact during meals, etc’ at production sites and elsewhere”. Nakai’s announcement also came days after Fuji Television president Koichi Minato confirmed that the company had not disclosed the scandal despite being aware of it long before it was reported in the media.