Masahiro Nakai, former leader of the idol supergroup SMAP, has recently been embroiled in a sex scandal that has also implicated Fuji TV in an alleged practice of arranging its female announcers for "sexual tribute." The fallout has been severe, with a public boycott and sponsors pulling their ads, dealing a major blow to the network.
Yesterday (Jan. 27), Fuji TV held its second press conference since the scandal broke, starting at 4 PM to address reports of employee involvement. In an extraordinary turn of events, the press conference dragged on until 2:23 AM the next day, lasting a staggering 10 hours and 23 minutes and quickly becoming a trending topic online.
▼ The conference ran so late that "Conference Over" became a trending keyword in the middle of the night.
Unlike the first press conference, which barred freelance journalists, this one was open to all media. A total of 437 reporters from 191 outlets attended. Facing the press were several top executives, including the resigning Fuji TV Chairman Shuji Kano (74) and President Koichi Minato (72), alongside Vice Chairman Ryunosuke Endo (69), Fuji Media Holdings President Osamu Kanemitsu (70), and newly appointed President Kenji Shimizu (64).
During the conference, Minato and Kano explained their reasons for resigning, taking responsibility for the handling of the Nakai scandal, the controversial first press conference on the 17th, and the subsequent withdrawal of 75 sponsors. Fuji Media Holdings stated, "We will cooperate with the third-party committee's investigation under a new management structure and push forward with reforms to rebuild trust, while also considering a comprehensive review of our entire management system." However, they continued to deny any company employee involvement in the scandal.
The event quickly descended into chaos. As reporters' questions were repeatedly shut down with the response, "We cannot answer due to privacy concerns," the room erupted in shouts of "You have to answer!" "Tell the truth!" and "This is a sham!" The atmosphere grew tense, with some reporters yelling loudly, leading to chaotic scenes where journalists even began scolding each other for being "too loud."
The aggressive and confrontational questioning from many freelance journalists, however, caused a noticeable shift in public opinion on X. The online discourse began to move away from criticizing Fuji TV and toward frustration with the freelance reporters, with many users calling their conduct unprofessional and blaming them for the chaotic nature of the event.
The first official break was only called around 10 PM, a full six hours into the press conference. Fuji Media Holdings President Osamu Kanemitsu admitted, "We need to reflect on holding a press conference this long." As the night wore on, some reporters began to leave, though about 20% of the seats remained filled until the very end.
While many online users on X initially tuned in for the drama of watching Fuji TV's top brass get grilled, a different sentiment emerged as the hours passed. Seeing the executives, with an average age of 70, go for over six hours without a single bathroom break, some users began to express concern: "Please, just let them go to the bathroom!"
Despite the marathon session and endless questions, the conference ultimately repeated existing information and offered no new revelations. Many viewers were left deeply disappointed, feeling the 10-plus-hour event yielded nothing. Key questions—like the identity of the producer allegedly involved in the scandal and who at Fuji TV was being held accountable—remained unanswered.
The press conference has been widely labeled a farce by netizens, who criticized both the confrontational reporters and the evasive performance of the Fuji TV executives. It seems the network still has a very long road ahead to regain public trust.