Latest news with #KenjiShimizu
a day ago
- Entertainment
Fuji TV Apologizes to Ex-Worker over Nakai Scandal
News from Japan Culture Jun 20, 2025 09:47 (JST) Tokyo, June 20 (Jiji Press)--Fuji Television Network Inc. has said President Kenji Shimizu apologized to a former employee and agreed to compensate her over the company's handling of a sexual assault scandal by former TV personality Masahiro Nakai. Shimizu met with the former employee and expressed apologies for letting the incident happen as "an extension" of Fuji TV's business operations, according to the company's announcement Thursday. He also apologized that Fuji TV failed to provide necessary human rights relief and caused her mental distress. The company and the former employee then concluded an agreement including measures to protect her from "unreasonable attacks and defamation" on social media and other platforms. The accord also includes compensation for the economic and psychological damage caused to the woman by Fuji TV and company officials including executives. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
13-06-2025
- Business
U.S. Proxy Firm Backs SBI's Kitao as Fuji Media Director
News from Japan Jun 13, 2025 15:29 (JST) Tokyo, June 13 (Jiji Press)--U.S. proxy adviser Glass, Lewis & Co. recommended Friday that Fuji Media Holdings Inc. shareholders vote for five of the board candidates proposed by shareholder Dalton Investments, including SBI Holdings Inc. Chairman and President Yoshitaka Kitao. Glass Lewis said that the five can provide expertise and enhance diversity of views in the board of Fuji Media, which will hold a regular meeting of shareholders June 25. The advisory company backed nine of Fuji Media's board candidates including Kenji Shimizu, president of core unit Fuji Television Network Inc. But it advised voting against the remaining two candidates including Takashi Sawada, former president of convenience store chain FamilyMart Co., whom it opposes on the ground that he sits on the boards of other companies. Another U.S. proxy firm Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. said Tuesday that it supports Fuji Media's full slate of 11 board candidates and opposes Dalton's 12 candidates. It said that opposing the appointment of Shimizu would cause confusion in management. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Japan Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Fuji Media keeps real estate spinoff in play as activists circle
Fuji Media Holdings' incoming president said "all options' regarding its real estate operations remain on the table, including a possible spinoff along the lines of activist investor demands. The Japanese entertainment group last month rejected a shareholder proposal from Dalton Investments calling for a different slate of directors as well as a spin-out of its lucrative real estate arm. But the company has yet to finalize its long-term strategy, Kenji Shimizu said in an interview Monday. "The resulting scenario may be something along the lines of what shareholders propose, or we may pursue further growth instead,' Shimizu said. "Both scenarios are possible.' The Japanese broadcaster — which is struggling to recover from a sexual harassment scandal — has been sparring with activist shareholders in an exchange that's become a gauge of corporate governance in Japan. Both Fuji Media's executives and Dalton are on a campaign to win shareholder support ahead of an annual general meeting on June 25. For the near term, however, Fuji Media is reluctant to spin out the real estate arm. Operating profit in that division has grown four to five times since 2012, Shimizu said. In contrast, Fuji Media's intellectual property assets — key to improving profitability in Fuji's core media and content segment — will require several years to monetize effectively, said Shimizu, who is now president of the group's television network. The real estate business essential as a source of investment income for the foreseeable future, he said. Fuji Media has been struggling with declining advertising revenue alongside public condemnation of its handling of sexual misconduct allegations involving former celebrity Masahiro Nakai. Dalton has argued that Fuji should focus solely on growing its core media and content businesses. Dalton's co-founder James Rosenwald has said that he and Fuji Media's largest shareholder, Aya Nomura, agree that spinning off the real estate unit could potentially double the conglomerate's corporate value. Demands to split out the real estate operations will likely persist beyond the shareholder meeting later this month, Shimizu said. "Until our corporate value rises, we will continue to face such criticism,' he said. Fuji Media is proposing 11 directors to a board that will keep Shimizu but replaces the rest of its current lineup. Dalton has proposed an alternative slate of 12 directors, including Yoshitaka Kitao, chairman and CEO of SBI Holdings. "This board is the best we can offer now,' Shimizu said, but added that discussions are possible should any of Dalton's candidates be elected. "The task on hand is to discuss ways to enhance corporate value.'
Bloomberg
09-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Fuji Media Keeps Real Estate Spinoff in Play as Activists Circle
Fuji Media Holdings Inc. 's incoming president said 'all options' regarding its real estate operations remain on the table, including a possible spinoff along the lines of activist investor demands. The Japanese entertainment group last month rejected a shareholder proposal from Dalton Investments calling for a different slate of directors as well as a spin-out of the lucrative real estate arm. But the company has yet to finalize its long-term strategy, Kenji Shimizu said in an interview Monday.
Japan Forward
06-06-2025
- Business
- Japan Forward
Fuji Media Turns to Shimizu for Post-Scandal Overhaul
このページを 日本語 で読む Fuji Media Holdings (FMH) new president, Kenji Shimizu, is pledging sweeping reforms to restore trust and reinvent the business after an industry scandal earlier this year. The network was rocked in January by a scandal involving former pop idol Masahiro Nakai, which exposed an opaque corporate culture at Fuji TV Fuji's initial closed-door handling of the misconduct allegations drew intense public criticism, forcing an open apology and a third-party probe into the company's governance. The fallout prompted a broad shake-up of Fuji's leadership and internal policies, including the resignation of top executives and the appointment of Shimizu as president to lead an urgent reform effort In a candid interview with The Sankei Shimbun , Shimizu, set to take over as president of FMH on June 25, acknowledged deep-rooted issues at the heart of recent scandals. He outlined a reform agenda aimed at restoring trust and revitalizing Fuji's content business. At the core of the recent problems, said Shimizu, was the "rigidity and homogeneity" in Fuji's personnel system. Over time, this led to an environment where "no one could speak up, even when they sensed something was wrong." He pointed to structural reforms already underway, including a reconstituted board with a majority of independent outside directors and a higher ratio of women. These, he said, would significantly improve governance transparency. When asked about the lingering influence of Hisashi Hieda, the former chairman who served for over 40 years on the board, Shimizu dismissed concerns. "There is absolutely no influence from Mr Hieda on the new leadership team," he affirmed. He added that Fuji has introduced stricter retirement policies and abolished its advisor system to ensure board independence. Kenji Shimizu, President of Fuji TV, during an interview (©Sankei by Yasuhiro Yajima). On the decision to reject a shareholder proposal from the American investment fund Dalton Investments, Shimizu said the company conducted interviews with all director candidates, including those proposed by Dalton, and applied the same selection process. "We saw no reason to increase the board size or change direction. The current team offers both balance and effectiveness." Asked whether profits from Fuji's real estate division have led to complacency in the media arm, Shimizu defended the group's strategy. The real estate and tourism businesses have evolved dramatically, he noted. But the real issue is the "low profitability of media content," which he intends to address head-on. Reflecting on past missteps, Shimizu admitted that Fuji "hasn't done enough to monetize its content." He said the company needs to move away from planning shows just for TV broadcast and start designing projects with broader revenue streams in mind, from streaming and theatrical releases to merchandising and gaming. "If we stop assuming terrestrial TV is the default outlet, our creative horizons will widen." Shimizu emphasized that his ultimate goal as president is for Fuji to grow while contributing to society. "Profit is just a means," he said. "A company that doesn't help solve social problems or improve something has no reason to exist." Drawing on his background in anime production, Shimizu said he never saw animation as something just for children. "Kids are sharp," he explained. "They don't fall for cheap tricks. They evaluate entertainment honestly." Producing Dragon Ball and Chibi Maruko-chan, he said, taught him valuable lessons about pacing, emotional storytelling, and understanding an audience. He recalled how Dragon Ball captivated viewers with its explosive speed — "a new villain appears, and by the next panel, he's already sliced down." With Chibi Maruko-chan, the challenge was entirely different: bringing to life a still world frozen in the psychological landscape of author Momoko Sakura. To preserve that vision, he built a writing team of women from the same generation as Sakura. Shimizu also discussed managing the fallout of the recent scandal. Fuji has done everything possible to avoid passing costs onto its affiliates or production partners, he noted. Even when sponsors pulled out, Fuji continued to fully fund production. "Supporting our partners and stakeholders is a responsibility we won't compromise on," he said. Interview by Katsutoshi Takagi Author: The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
