Top Actor Confesses To Receiving Sexual Entertainment From Female Announcers

Japanese top actor Masaharu Fukuyama, known in Korea for the film Like Father, Like Son, has admitted to attending gatherings involving female announcers allegedly providing sexual entertainment, sparking major controversy.

On August 18, Japanese weekly magazine Josei Seven reported that, during an internal investigation at Fuji TV prompted by the Masahiro Nakai sexual assault scandal, it was revealed Fukuyama had been regularly meeting with former Fuji TV executive director Ryo Ota since 2005. At least 19 female announcers were found to have been present at these gatherings.

The committee’s report stated that “in communications with former executive Ryo Ota, Fukuyama exchanged messages implying, ‘I look forward to the gatherings with female announcers’ and ‘I want to meet new announcers.’”

During questioning, female announcers testified that Fukuyama made crude sexual jokes in conversations, and the Fuji TV executive joined in, enjoying sexual banter together. Following the report, Fukuyama acknowledged the facts on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

“I deeply regret it. After repeated careful discussions with my agency, I refrained from speaking directly out of concern that speculation, identification, or defamation of related parties might occur. However, to prevent further misunderstanding, I have decided to respond in an interview. I am truly heartbroken for causing fans anxiety and concern.”

Born in 1969, Fukuyama is a singer-songwriter and actor considered one of Japan’s top stars alongside Takuya Kimura. He debuted as a singer in 1990 and made his acting debut in 1991 with Because There Is Tomorrow. He gained national popularity through works such as Beauty or Beast, Galileo, and Ryomaden, but his popularity declined after his marriage in 2015. In 2013, he visited the Busan International Film Festival with director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Like Father, Like Son.