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

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.