Japan’s Masahiro Nakai retires from showbiz amid sex scandal

Nakai’s decision came following reports that he engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with a woman that led to a settlement with the victim

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Masahiro Nakai (left) with his fellow members of Japanese boy band SMAP in 2015. Photo: JIJI Press/AFP

Published: 12:06pm, 23 Jan 2025Updated: 2:09pm, 23 Jan 2025

Masahiro Nakai, a popular Japanese television host who was a member of the former pop group SMAP and is embroiled in a sexual misconduct scandal, said on Thursday he has retired from show business.

The 52-year-old TV celebrity’s announcement comes after a weekly magazine reported that he had engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with a woman in her 20s in June 2023 that led to a 90 million yen (US$575,000) out-of-court settlement.

“As of today, I will retire from entertainment activities,” Nakai said on his fan club website. “I am sorry for the inconvenience and losses I have caused to so many people.”

SMAP, an acronym for Sports Music Assemble People, was formed in 1988 and gained popularity in Japan and across Asia. Nakai served as the group’s leader until it disbanded in 2016.

Earlier this month, Fuji Television suspended a weekly show hosted by Nakai after the allegations surfaced.

Other major television networks also said they were dropping the former pop star.

Nakai said talks on suspending TV programmes and the cancellation of contracts with TV networks and sponsors had “all ended,” leading to his announcement on Thursday.