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國際時事跟讀 Ep.K955: Fuji TV Scandal Sparks Debate on Media Ethics and Women's Rights in Japan
Highlights 主題摘要：
- A famous Japanese star, Masahiro Nakai, faced sexual assault accusations, leading to public backlash and his entertainment industry exit.
- Fuji TV lost credibility after allowing Nakai to appear on air despite knowing the accusations, causing financial and leadership issues.
- The scandal sparked a wider debate about media ethics, women's rights, and the need for deeper reforms in Japan.
The recent scandal involving Japanese entertainer Masahiro Nakai and a Fuji TV employee has sent shockwaves through the country, exposing deep-rooted issues within Japan’s media industry. Nakai, a former member of the popular boy band SMAP, was accused of sexual assault at a dinner party in 2023. Although he denied the allegations and settled the matter privately, public backlash forced him to retire from the entertainment industry. Fuji TV, which had a longstanding contract with Nakai, has faced severe criticism for allowing him to continue appearing on air despite knowing about the accusations. The scandal has raised serious concerns about corporate governance, media ethics, and the treatment of women in Japan’s entertainment sector.
近期，日本藝人中居正廣與富士電視台員工的醜聞震驚全國，揭露了日本媒體業深層的問題。中居，曾是人氣男團 SMAP 的成員，被指控在 2023 年的一場晚宴上性侵女性。儘管他否認指控並私下和解，公眾的強烈反彈仍迫使他退出演藝圈。與中居有長期合作關係的富士電視台，明知相關指控卻仍讓他持續曝光，因此遭到外界嚴厲批評。此醜聞引發了對企業治理、媒體倫理，以及日本娛樂產業中女性待遇的嚴重關切。
The fallout from the controversy has been immense, with Fuji TV losing credibility, advertisers pulling their sponsorships, and top executives stepping down. A major shareholder of Fuji Media Holdings, the broadcaster’s parent company, has called for further governance reforms, criticizing the resignation of the company’s president and chairman as insufficient. The letter also questioned the long-standing influence of Hisashi Hieda, an 87-year-old senior advisor, who has been a dominant figure in the organization for nearly four decades. In response, Fuji TV has announced a new "Revitalization and Reform Project Headquarters" led by newly appointed President Kenji Shimizu, aimed at preventing similar scandals and rebuilding public trust.
該事件帶來的衝擊波極為巨大，富士電視台信譽受損，廣告商紛紛撤資，高層管理人員相繼辭職。該電視台母公司富士媒體控股的一名大股東要求進一步改革治理結構，並批評公司總裁與董事長的辭職不足以解決問題。該股東在信中質疑現年 87 歲的資深顧問日枝久社長的長期影響力，而他近四十年來掌控著這家企業。作為回應，富士電視台宣布成立「振興與改革計畫總部」，由新任社長清水賢治領導，旨在防範類似醜聞並重建公眾信任。
Beyond its impact on Fuji TV, the scandal has ignited a broader conversation about sexual violence and gender inequality in Japan. Historically, victims of sexual assault in Japan have been pressured into silence, with a 2020 survey indicating that over 70% of such cases go unreported. Experts argue that the country’s media industry has long fostered a culture of impunity, where women have been expected to tolerate inappropriate behavior to maintain their careers. The case has also shed light on problematic social practices, such as using young women as entertainment at business gatherings. Activists see the widespread condemnation of Fuji TV and Nakai’s resignation as a potential turning point for women’s rights in Japan, marking a shift in how society perceives and responds to sexual misconduct.
此事件不僅影響富士電視台，更在全日本引發對性暴力與性別不平等的廣泛討論。日本歷來的性侵受害者往往被迫保持沉默。2020 年的一項調查顯示，超過 70% 的性侵案件未被報案。專家指出，日本媒體業長期存在縱容文化，女性往往被要求忍受不當行為才能維持職業生涯。本案也揭露了某些不當社交習慣，例如讓年輕女性在商業聚會上「陪席助興」的文化。社會運動人士認為，富士電視台遭受廣泛譴責以及中居的引退，或許標誌著日本女性權益發展的轉折點，象徵著社會對性暴力的認知與應對態度正在改變。
Despite these developments, progress remains slow. While corporate leaders have been forced to acknowledge the issue, critics argue that deeper structural reforms are needed to ensure lasting change. As Japan grapples with the implications of this scandal, the question remains: Will this moment lead to genuine transformation, or will it fade into history as just another controversy? For now, the fight for accountability and gender equality continues.
儘管改革已然上路，進程依舊緩慢。企業領袖被迫正視問題，批評者認為，只有更深層次的結構性變革才能帶來真正的改變。隨著日本社會對此醜聞的反思持續深化，關鍵問題仍然存在：這是否會成為真正的轉捩點，還是最終淪為曇花一現的風波？目前，對於問責與性別平權的抗爭仍在持續進行中。
Keyword Drills 關鍵字：
- Longstanding (Long-stand-ing) [adjective. existing for a long time]: Fuji TV, which had a longstanding contract with Nakai, has faced severe criticism for allowing him to continue appearing on air despite knowing about the accusations.
- Credibility (Cred-i-bil-i-ty) [noun. the quality of being trusted and believed]: The fallout from the controversy has been immense, with Fuji TV losing credibility, advertisers pulling their sponsorships, and top executives stepping down.
- Resignation (Res-ig-na-tion) [noun. the act of leaving a job or position]: A major shareholder of Fuji Media Holdings, the broadcaster’s parent company, has called for further governance reforms, criticizing the resignation of the company’s president and chairman as insufficient.
- Unreported (Un-re-port-ed) [adjective. not told to authorities or the public]: Historically, victims of sexual assault in Japan have been pressured into silence, with a 2020 survey indicating that over 70% of such cases go unreported.
- Structural (Struc-tur-al) [adjective. related to the way something is organized or built]: While corporate leaders have been forced to acknowledge the issue, critics argue that deeper structural reforms are needed to ensure lasting change.
Reference article:
1. https://japan-forward.com/fuji-tv-scandal-a-wake-up-call-for-japanese-media/
2. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd0nzmmzvyno