The impact of Fuji Television Network Inc.'s loss of advertisers over a scandal between a woman and former TV personality Masahiro Nakai has

The spiralling controversy involves Masahiro Nakai, the 52-year-old media personality who was the leader of defunct male idol group Smap, and mainstream broadcaster Fuji Television. It also highlights the growing role that foreign activist shareholders are playing in compelling change in stuffy Japanese boardrooms.

Japanese magazines accused Masahiro Nakai, a TV host and leader of the former boy band SMAP, of sexual misconduct. Nakai has worked for Fuji TV and other broadcasters

Koichi Minato, president of Fuji Television, resigned with immediate effect, while Shuji Kano, chairman of both Fuji Television and its parent company, Fuji Media Holdings, also stepped down. Kenji Shimizu, executive vice-president of Fuji Media Holdings, will take over as president of the television network.

Fuji TV's Chairman and President have resigned over the handling of the sexual misconduct scandal involving TV presenter Masahiro Nakai.

The president and chairperson of Japanese network Fuji Television have resigned over a widening sex assault scandal linked to one of Japan's top TV celebrities. The allegations surfaced in magazine articles in December and have since triggered claims of systematic cover-ups by Fuji TV executives.