A former freelance TV host is taking one of Japan’s regional broadcasters to court. She alleges years of ignored sexual harassment on set. Worse, she says her harassment was broadcast for other people’s amusement. Her lawsuit further exposes the power imbalances and outdated industry norms that continue to shape Japan’s television industry.
Allegation: Years of sexual harassment were laughed off and aired to the public
A freelance TV host filed a lawsuit on June 6 with the Tokyo District Court against Ai Television. The TV station is a TBS affiliate based in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture. She seeks about 41 million yen in damages. She alleges sexual harassment during filming and broadcasting, and the company’s failure to prevent or stop it.
According to the lawsuit, she worked as a host on an independently produced variety show aired by Ai Television. The show ran for six years starting in April 2016. During that time, regular cast members—a well-known celebrity and a Buddhist monk—allegedly made sexual remarks and committed indecent acts toward her.
The lawsuit states the production team tolerated this behavior. Ai Television aired the episodes without editing the harassment and added on-screen captions like “skilled in bed” and “S” (sadistic). The production team degraded her image and violated her dignity through public airwaves, the lawsuit says.
The woman said, “The cast often made vulgar, sexual jokes and relentless sexual remarks, and the staff members would laugh loudly and encourage it. Even when someone pulled down my dress, the filming continued—and it broke me, both physically and mentally.”
Physically and mentally broken
The former female TV host repeatedly asked the producers to address the sexual harassment, but nothing changed. She also filed a complaint with the Broadcasting Ethics & Program Improvement Organization (BPO). She reported the harassment she experienced on the show. However, the BPO ruled that “no violation of human rights was found, and the issue does not rise to the level of a breach of broadcasting ethics.”
As a result of the harassment, she suffered from stress-induced insomnia, overeating, vomiting, and sudden hearing loss. She later sued Ai Television, arguing that the company failed to provide a safe working environment. The plaintiff’s side also pointed out that the production team prioritized the celebrity’s mood over her well-being.
In response, Ai Television said it would “review the details of the complaint carefully and consider an appropriate response once the lawsuit is received.”
Behind the smiles on screen, sexual and power harassment scandals keep surfacing
The alleged sexual harassment case at Ai Television is not the only one to surface. A few months ago, several media outlets reported that a former Fuji TV announcer experienced sexual violence by well-known celebrity Nakai Masahiro. A Fuji TV employee had urged her to attend a dinner with Nakai, promising it would help her career. Later, Nakai invited her to a one-on-one dinner. She felt uneasy but agreed, fearing that rejecting the invitation could hurt her job prospects.
That night, Nakai sexually assaulted her, according to a third-party committee. The incident severely impacted her mental health and triggered an eating disorder that led to hospitalization. A Fuji TV employee later testified that they felt she might take her own life.
Following the recent revelations, another troubling case also resurfaced. A male celebrity at the same TV station had previously exposed his lower body to a female Fuji TV employee during a work-related dinner. The third-party committee concluded that harassment had spread across the entire organization at Fuji TV.
These cases may only be the tip of the iceberg, and many more hidden violations could be occurring behind the scenes at Japan’s TV stations.
A Broken System: How Japan’s TV stations enable workplace Harassment
In recent months, disturbing cases of sexual harassment have surfaced in Japan’s television industry. For years, many have viewed TV stations as exploitative workplaces ruled by rigid hierarchies and outdated corporate values. Japanese people I’ve spoken to often view them as exploitative companies (ブラック企業; burakku kigyō). The term refers to workplaces with harsh conditions and top-down power structures where obedience is valued over basic rights.
I previously worked full-time at one of Japan’s major TV stations as a journalist. I saw firsthand how accurate these perceptions were. Those in higher positions often lacked awareness of wrongdoing and expected silence, even when misconduct was obvious. This oppressive culture distorts power dynamics and exposes vulnerable workers to abuse. The system not only overlooks harm—it enables it.
These recent revelations may only scratch the surface of deeper, systemic problems in Japan’s television industry. It’s an institution that should reflect society’s best values, but instead seems to do the opposite.
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Sources
収録現場や放送でセクハラ「体と心壊れた」ＴＢＳ系あいテレビをフリー女性アナ提訴「有名タレント最優先」EBC News
【検証】中居氏の性暴力・口封じ・上納文化「こんな仕事の仕方は時代錯誤」フジ社内にハラスメント“まん延”か「メディア業界全体で、業務の必要と認められない飲み会は、やめていかなきゃいけない」YTV
