Masahiro Nakai, a popular TV host who was a member of the former pop group SMAP and is embroiled in a sexual misconduct scandal, said

Observers say the former boy band member’s fall from grace echoes music mogul Johnny Kitagawa’s decades of sexual abuse.

Dozens of major Japanese companies have pulled their commercials from broadcaster Fuji Television amid allegations company officials tried to cover up a sex scandal involving one of the country’s most famous TV hosts.

In response to reports of a Fuji Television Network Inc. employee's alleged involvement in a scandal surrounding entertainer Masahiro Nakai,

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.

Dozens of major companies, including Nissan and Toyota, have withdrawn ads from Fuji TV following a sex scandal.

Japanese TV network Fuji faces mass advertiser exodus after allegations of covering up sexual assault claims against host Masahiro Nakai of SMAP fame.

Major sponsors such as carmakers Nissan and Toyota and the owner of 7-Eleven announced they were pulling ads from Fuji TV over the scandal.