Observers say the former boy band members' fall from grace echoes music mogul Johnny Kitagawa's decades of sexual abuse Japan's Fuji Television Network has hired external lawyers to investigate a snowballing sex scandal surrounding pop star-turned-TV celebrity Masahiro Nakai,

SMAP member allegedly engaged in sexual misconduct and Fuji TV is now facing criticism over its handling of the issue.

Japan's Fuji Television said it will open an investigation into a high-profile sex scandal linked to one of the country's top celebrities.

Fuji Television Network Inc. said Wednesday it has launched an investigation into allegations of its involvement in a sexual miscondu

Nakai, 52, reportedly paid a woman $791,000 after she alleged sexual misconduct. Read more at straitstimes.com.

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The president of Fuji Television Network apologized Friday over allegations it was involved in a sexual misconduct scandal involving Japanese TV host Masahiro Nakai, best known as a member of the now-defunct pop group SMAP, and a woman.

TV host and former J-pop star Masahiro Nakai, 52, a household name, reportedly paid a woman 90 million yen (Dh2.1 million) after she alleged sexual misconduct. Fuji previously denied tabloid reports suggesting one of its employees had arranged the meal where Nakai, a member of the 1990s boy band sensation SMAP, met the woman in 2023.

Major TV networks have distanced themselves from one of Japan's biggest 1990s boy band stars after media reports said he paid a woman a large settlement related to alleged sexual misconduct.