First, there was Kimura Hana. The Terrace House star tragically lost her life after a wave of online harassment. Many criticized the show’s station, Fuji TV, for airing an episode they knew would rain down hate on the wrestler.
Then came Nakai Masahiro and his anonymous victim. It came out last year that the former SMAP member had settled a sexual assault claim brought by a former Fuji TV announcer. Fuji ended up commissioning a third-party investigation into whether the station helped Nakai cover it up.
Now, Fuji TV finds itself in another scandal. This time, the facts are more complicated. But Fuji’s failure to do right by its people persists.
Rather than a clear-cut case of wrongdoing, the current issue shows Fuji dropping the ball and leaving both of its stars in the lurch. It’s led to many siding with the accused, and to a flood of his supporters directing vile torrents of misogyny at the accuser.
What actually happened?
The controversy involves the new Fuji TV drama 夫婦別姓刑事 (fūfu bessei keiji), “Separate Surname Detectives,” starring Satō Jirō (57) and Hashimoto Ai (30). The show, whose title plays off the years-long controversy over separate spousal surnames in Japan, is a comedy that centers on two married detectives working in the same unit. Since married partners aren’t allowed to work together, the two use different last names to hide their relationship.
On July 1st, Shukan Bunshun broke what seemed like one of its usual celebrity scandal scoops. It said on social media that Satō had “burst” into Hashimoto’s dressing room at one point, reducing her to tears. It also claimed the actor touched the actress against her will.
However, Satō’s agency, From First Production, quickly countered the story.
