The revelation that Japan's national actor Masaharu Fukuyama is implicated in a sexual service scandal involving female announcers from Fuji TV has shocked fans both locally and domestically.
On the 18th, Japanese media disclosed an internal report from Fuji TV, which surfaced in connection with the sexual assault case of Masahiro Nakai from SMAP. The report indicated that Masaharu Fukuyama attended gatherings of female announcers organized by former executive Ryo Oota 1-2 times a year since 2005. It has been recorded that at least 19 female announcers have attended such gatherings.
In particular, messenger conversations between former executive Oota and a "male prominent program participant" included remarks like, "I look forward to the meeting with the female announcers" and "I want to meet the new female announcers," with reports specifying that this "prominent participant" is Masaharu Fukuyama. Some attending female announcers disclosed that they had "unpleasant experiences," revealing the sexual atmosphere of the gatherings.
In response, Masaharu Fukuyama acknowledged attending the gatherings but denied saying, "I never made sexual remarks." In an interview with Women Seven lasting more than 70 minutes, he expressed, "After reading the report, I have been thinking and reflecting continuously. I believe it is absolutely wrong to identify those who had unpleasant experiences. So, I deeply considered how to apologize."
Fukuyama's agency also stated, "I was merely invited and attended a work-related dinner, and there were no problematic remarks or actions." However, regarding reports that they refused requests from a third-party committee to hear testimony, they clarified that it was not a refusal but rather a written response due to local filming schedules.
The Fuji TV female announcer sexual service scandal came to the forefront after the sexual assault incident involving Masahiro Nakai emerged in December of last year. As Masaharu Fukuyama is recognized as one of Japan's representative 'national actors' alongside Takuya Kimura, this controversy is creating a wider ripple effect.
Fukuyama is well-known to domestic fans for dramas such as "Galileo," and films like "The Devotion of Suspect X" and "Like Father, Like Son." He actively engaged with Korean fans through the film "Manhunt" alongside Ha Ji-won, earning him the nickname "Japan's Jang Dong-gun."
[Photo] Provided
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