Former Fuji TV announcer Tomoko Uchida, now working as a freelance commentator, shared her thoughts on the mounting controversy surrounding the channel and prominent talent Masahiro Nakai during her appearance on TBS's afternoon program "Gogo! Smile!" on January 22. Her comments come amid reports of Nakai's involvement in misconduct and subsequent fallout affecting the network and its personnel.
Uchida, who left Fuji TV in 2006, expressed her belief during the broadcast, saying, "Looking at the entire series of responses from Fuji TV so far, I feel it's understandable for sponsors to withdraw support." She explained how the media outlet, having established itself as a heavyweight institution, may have developed a sense of complacency about the changing compliance standards and the expectations of contemporary audiences.
"I think there may be some parts where they were sitting back on their laurels as a mainstream media outlet," Uchida remarked, implying the network's past successes didn’t prepare them adequately for the recent public scrutiny. "With changes over time, such as compliance issues, I feel they were unable to keep pace with the organizational challenges, which likely contributed to the current issues they’re facing."
Uchida has maintained contact with current staff at Fuji, shedding light on the internal climate. "Many of them genuinely don’t know the full details of what’s occurring. They are now caught up speaking about the issues without having all the facts, struggling under the weight of false accusations," she noted, reflecting on the distress experienced by those under scrutiny.
She highlighted the importance of self-reflection, stating, "They must hold on to the feeling of self-remorse as to whether the previous workings of their television station were adequate. They need to regain the trust of viewers and sponsors and undertake internal reform to rectify the issues... I sincerely hope they will provide responses to all parties concerned, including employees, sponsors, and viewers. That’s absolutely necessary moving forward."
The controversy around Nakai has already led to significant repercussions for Fuji TV. Multiple programs featuring him have been affected, with more than 75 companies reportedly pausing or withdrawing their sponsorship and advertising on the network since the allegations surfaced. The fallout also included the halting of the popular culinary program "Kuishinbo! Banzai!" which Nakai has been associated with for years.
Nakai, reportedly one of the highest profile personalities on Japanese television, has been embroiled in allegations of inappropriate conduct, leading to his withdrawal from three major broadcasting networks, such as Nippon Broadcast, TBS, and TV-Asahi, as they all launched investigations and sought to distance themselves from any potential fallout.
Uchida's call for urgent reform and adequate response from Fuji TV stems from her strong sense of obligation to uphold public trust. She firmly stated, "It's imperative for them to reestablish the transparency and integrity expected of them as broadcasters."
The tension within Fuji TV has heightened as several stakeholders, including the media's public facing personalities, have begun to call for insight and clarity on how the network plans to rectify its lost credibility. Proposals for the need to hold accountable those within the ranks of Fuji TV have started to circulate, marking what could be the beginning of sweeping changes.
With the network set to hold internal discussions to address staff concerns, Uchida's straightforward observations have sparked dialogues on accountability and detail handling within the organization.
Uchida concluded her remarks by reiterative the necessity for Fuji TV to conduct itself with the esteem and responsibility expected of one of Japan’s leading media companies: “For the sake of sponsors, viewers, and staff, I sincerely wish they will deliver satisfactory answers and continue improving moving forward.”
This scandal sheds light not only on the challenges within Fuji TV but also raises questions about the wider media climate and how institutions respond to changing expectations from both their employees and the public at large. This might be one of the most pivotal moments for Fuji TV as it seeks to regain its footing amid the growing distrust and scrutiny fueled by social media and public opinion.