Masahiro Nakai, one of Japan's top TV hosts and a former pop star, says he is retiring to take responsibility over sexual assault allegations.

The allegations concern a 2023 encounter with a woman that involved a closed-door setting and a “sexual act against her will”. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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.

Masahiro Nakai, a popular TV host who was a member of the former pop group SMAP and is embroiled in a sexual misconduct scandal, said

The 52-year-old former SMAP member said his contracts had been wound up, and that negotiations with sponsors were in progress.

Masahiro Nakai, popular name in Japan 's entertainment industry and ex-member of SMAP boyband, has announced retirement after being accused of sexual misconduct. Nakai had been forced into a corner after the allegations prompted several top brands to pull their ads from Fuji Television, a major Japanese broadcaster where Nakai served as a host.

Masahiro Nakai, one of Japan’s top TV hosts and a former pop star in the band SMAP, announced today that he was retiring to take responsibility over sexual assault allegations. Weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun reported in December that Nakai had reached a 90 million yen (approx.

Dozens of companies pulled their commercials from Fuji Television amid claims that the company's staff had tried to cover up the scandal. Nakai has denied using violence against the woman, and said earlier on 9 January that he had "resolved" the matter with her through a settlement.