[instiz] JAPAN’S NATIONAL MC GOT HIMSELF IN THE MOST UNPRECEDENTED CONTROVERSY

The fall of the SMAP leader… Nakai’s s** bribery scandal, 800 million won settlement → “Retirement announcement”

This incident began with a report from the Japanese weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun. According to the report, a senior executive at Fuji TV, one of Japan’s largest broadcasters, was implicated in a s** bribery scandal involving Nakai and a female announcer. It was also revealed that the victim received a settlement of approximately 830 million yen (8M USD) from Nakai, which intensified the controversy.

In response, Nakai acknowledged part of the allegations on the 9th of this month through an official statement on his personal agency’s website, admitting that “some trouble did occur.” However, he denied the rest of the report and maintained his innocence.

End of advertising and retirement from showbiz

Following the scandal involving Nakai, Fuji TV faced a backlash, with a significant loss of major advertisers. Major Japanese companies stopped placing advertisements with the network, which resulted in increasing damage to the broadcaster and worsened public opinion surrounding Nakai.

As the scandal spread, Nakai ultimately decided to end his entertainment career. In a message to his fans, he stated, “As an idol who once received a lot of love, I feel a deep sense of responsibility.”

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Nakai’s retirement announcement is not just a personal matter but has raised broader issues about morality in the Japanese entertainment industry and the credibility of major broadcasters. The fact that Fuji TV, a prominent network, is at the center of this scandal has caused a massive shock to Japan’s pop culture industry.

As a result of this incident, there will likely be ongoing debate about how Nakai’s legacy in the Japanese entertainment industry will be evaluated.