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In the anime scene, Fuji TV Network stands tall as a behemoth of a figure. The broadcasting channel set up back in 1957 has played a key role in formulating strategies that have made series likeMighty Atom, Gatchaman, Dragon Ball,One Piece,and so many more titles. Thus, giving home to the titles that took the world by storm.
However, in an interesting turn of events, the company has found itself in hot waters over a scandal that has shaken it to its very core. Following a s*x scandal lawsuit from 2023 that links to one of Japan’s top TV celebrities has spread across the country like wildfire.
However, it is not the scandal that has taken the sleep away of the fans because they have been longstanding broadcasters ofOne PieceandDragon Ball.Hence, raising concerns on what lies ahead for the future of their favorite anime franchises.
Fuji TV’s s*x scandal has left them in deep trouble
The Japanese entertainment industry was knocked for a loop in a recent s*x scandal that involved Fuji Television Network. Their actions have not only raised concerns over the controversy but also put up speculations following the series that are broadcast on the channel. According to reports fromAP News, the allegations of the scandal surfaced in magazine articles in December 2024.
The news centered around Masahiro Nakao, the lead of a once-popular band called SMAP, and his hefty compensation of 90 million yen ($577,000) with a woman over the alleged s*x assault at a dinner party organized in 2023. What caught the attention was how several claims of“systematic cover-ups”by Fuji Television executives made the public furious over their actions.
One Piece: Toei Saved Eiichiro Oda’s Best Arc After Marineford That Was Almost Insufferable in the Manga
What added fuel to the fire was the lack of transparency and explanation also viaAP News, where Koichi Minato apologized for“causing tremendous trouble and concern due to the (media) reports”and an external panel, including him, would investigate the actions of the company officials.
These comments rubbed the wrong way, as they caused them a ton of losses at the company. Later, Minato-San mentioned in the 10-hour news conference how the situation was mishandled and“possibly”violated the human rights of the woman, without giving much detail of the incident. He said,
We are very sorry that we mishandled the case because of our lack of awareness about human rights and corporate governance … and as a result our responses to the involved woman were inadequate.
The Fuji TV Network President took responsibility for their unprofessional actions and apologized, saying,“We are very sorry to have destroyed our credibility.”
Toei Animation Is the Only Reason Why ‘Dragon Ball DAIMA’ Hasn’t Met Its Bitter Ending
However, that was not enough, as they were getting yelled at by the reporters, who demanded to have more clarifications on the matter.
Trouble comes in the way of Fuji Television Network
With each passing day, the public outrage grows, where losing the trust of the public and getting bombed with unmatched hate was just the tip of the iceberg. With the subject gaining more and more recognition, several major business tycoons, including Nissan and Toyota, are pulling away from the broadcasting channel.
As a result, both would prefer to save them from facing any backlash. However, if the veteran channel fails to regain the trust of the public or the scandal deepens, other steps might be taken. This includes the unthinkable, that is, shifting broadcasting rights to another channel.
One Piececan be streamed on Hulu.
Tushar Auddy
Senior Writer
Articles Published :1784
Tushar Auddy is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, primarily covering WWE. He has contributed to anime, MCU, DCU, animation, and TV Series, giving sharp insights and coming up with his own unique theories, which take the fandom by storm.
