Nakai Masahiro retires from the entertainment industry

Nakai Masahiro (52), a popular talent who is in the midst of a scandal involving a woman, announced his retirement from the entertainment industry on the 23rd on his fan club website.

Nakai wrote, “I, Nakai Masahiro, will retire from the entertainment industry as of today. In addition, my company, Nonbiri Nakai Co., Ltd., will close down as soon as the remaining procedures and work are completed,” he announced.

He continued, “In making this announcement, all of the meetings regarding the termination, resignation, cancellation, and termination of contracts with the various TV stations, radio stations, and sponsors that I have been involved in have been completed, and today has come.  I do not think that I have fulfilled all of my responsibilities with this. I will continue to face various issues sincerely and deal with them in good faith. I personally take full responsibility. I am truly sorry for causing so much trouble and loss to so many people.”

He then said, “Once again, I would like to sincerely apologize to the other party. I have caused trouble to all involved parties. I apologize again. I am very, very sorry. I wanted to meet all of you at Zura (note: the nickname Nakai gave to his fans) even once. I couldn’t meet you. I wanted to meet you. I’m so, so sorry to have to say goodbye like this. Goodbye…”.

In response to this, X’s official account was also deleted.

It was discovered that Nakai had settled a dispute with a woman at the end of December last year for a large settlement. This caused a scandal, and each station announced the end or suspension of regular programs. On the 22nd, Fuji TV announced the end of “Dareka to Nakai” (Sundays 9:00 p.m.), eliminating the six regular TV and radio programs that Nakai had before the scandal.

Also, after Fuji TV’s president Minato Koichi, whose employees were involved in Nakai’s trouble with a woman, held a “closed press conference,” the station saw a series of advertisers banning any commercials, with 75 companies having done so as of the 20th.

Minato apologized at the press conference saying, “We apologize for causing great concern to viewers and related parties, and for not being able to provide an explanation until now”. The company said it would set up an investigative committee centered on third-party lawyers to investigate whether employees of the company were involved.