Latest news with #Minato
Asahi Shimbun
07-07-2025
- General
- Asahi Shimbun
First dormouse found in town in Wakayama saved from cat
A Japanese dormouse caught for protection at the home of Takashi Matsuba in Nachi-Katsuura, Wakayama Prefecture (Provided by Shusaku Minato) NACHI-KATSUURA, Wakayama Prefecture—A rodent that was rescued from a curious house cat turned out to be the first Japanese dormouse found in this town on the Kii Peninsula. The dormouse, a government-designated natural treasure, was a 12-centimeter-long male pup younger than 1 year old. Thanks to Takashi Matsuba, 60, a local care manager, the dormouse will likely reach his first birthday. On the night of April 20, Matsuba, who lives in Nachi-Katsuura's Kumasegawa district, noticed his pet cat was staring at a round furry object in the hollow where a pillar and beam intersect. Before the cat could pounce, Matsuba gently wrapped the unfamiliar animal in a transparent plastic bag for safety. A closer look revealed the mammal was not an ordinary mouse. Matsuba searched the internet for information and concluded the animal was likely a treasured Japanese dormouse. He asked the Dormouse and Wildlife Institute in Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, for assistance. The dormouse had a wound on its tail. Matsuba took care of the animal by feeding it with apples and mikan while keeping in close contact with the research institution. He started thinking about when he would release the Japanese dormouse back into the wild. Shusaku Minato, representative director of the Dormouse and Wildlife Institute, also hails from Nachi-Katsuura and visits the southern part of the Kii Peninsula about once a month for his research. Minato studies the tree-to-tree and other routes wild creatures take to get around expressway tunnel construction sites in the cities of Kumano and Owase in Mie Prefecture. He has observed dormice at these locations. Minato was carrying out surveys in Kumano and the Ryujinmura district of Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, when he learned that Matsuba was planning to free the dormouse. On April 24, Matsuba, accompanied by Minato and prefectural and municipal officials, returned the Japanese dormouse to its natural habitat. Matsuba's discovery of the dormouse highlights the rich natural environment of Nachi-Katsuura and the surrounding Kinan region marked by primeval forests. The species' presence has been also confirmed in the nearby town of Kozagawa, Wakayama Prefecture. A few kilometers from Matsuba's home, a nest of the dormice was found downstream from the Nachi Otaki waterfall on Mount Nachisan in Nachi-Katsuura. 'My impression had always been that the Japanese dormouse is an animal variant that lives in much more northern areas,' Matsuba said. 'I would like the dormouse to grow securely in the forest of Nachi-Katsuura.'
The Mainichi
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Japan's Fuji TV airs probe into own response over Nakai's alleged sex assault of announcer
TOKYO -- A program reviewing Fuji TV's own response to the alleged sexual harassment of a former announcer by ex-personality Masahiro Nakai was aired on the network on July 6. Tokyo-based Fuji Television Network Inc. (Fuji TV) aired the program examining its internal handling of an alleged sexual assault case involving Nakai, which a third-party committee has acknowledged as sexual violence against a former female announcer of the network. At the start of the program, Fuji TV President Kenji Shimizu offered a renewed apology, stating, "We deeply apologize for causing concern and trouble regarding human rights and compliance issues." The alleged incident occurred in June 2023. Former Fuji TV President Koichi Minato and former executive managing director Toru Ota, who initially addressed the issue, appeared on the program to testify regarding the mishandling of their internal response. The program detailed the third-party committee's investigative report, released at the end of March, which found that the woman had experienced "sexual violence in the course of work-related activities." Minato stated, "I want to apologize (to her). I caused her pain by failing to fully empathize with her feelings." According to the program, when Minato and others first received reports of the assault in August 2023, they classified it as a "private matter between a man and a woman" based on reasons including the woman having gone to Nakai's apartment, and afterward did not conduct fact-finding inquiries with Nakai himself. Additionally, the third-party committee criticized Fuji TV, stating that "harassment is pervasive throughout the entire company," and that numerous gatherings had taken place focusing on gender, age and appearance to forge good working relationships with program participants and performers. The program featured confirmation of these practices with Minato, Ota and others who held such meetings. A female announcer who participated in gatherings organized by Ota testified, "He would always say things like, 'Female announcers are like high-end nightclub hostesses. A good announcer is one who can sell well as a hostess.'" Ota responded during the program, "I personally don't remember saying that, but I don't deny it at all since she remembers those remarks." Another woman who attended Minato's gatherings described them as "abnormal meetings, gathering only young, attractive women who could entertain clients." Regarding the corporate culture behind the scandal, the program also covered the responsibilities of Hisashi Hieda, who served as director for more than 40 years. The third-party committee had pointed out the harm of Hieda's significant influence over executive appointments. Despite three requests, Hieda declined interviews for the program. The investigation instead relied on testimonies from former executives and highlighted that Hieda's continued control over personnel decisions weakened Fuji TV's corporate governance. Ryunosuke Endo, former vice chairperson and a confidant of Hieda, revealed a meeting that took place the day before lasting more than 10 hours of press conference held on Jan. 27, where he appealed to Hieda for about 40 minutes to resign. Endo recalled saying, "If you don't step down, the situation will never settle." Endo also pointed out the harmful influence of Hieda's longstanding authority, expressing concerns that "executives and department heads trying to win Mr. Hieda's favor negatively impact younger employees' motivation significantly." Nonetheless, Hieda reportedly refused, replying, "I won't quit. Are you quitting without a fight?" Former Fuji TV President Ko Toyoda, who served from 2007 to 2013, provided written testimony stating, "It is true that Mr. Hieda controlled both executive appointments and their compensation, demonstrating a failure in governance." The program further examined the former programming department chief who introduced Nakai to the female announcer involved. An employee who had worked with this former chief testified that he and Nakai were mahjong companions. He said their relationship was such that if Nakai called with an invitation, the former chief would "drop everything, even private commitments, to hurry to him." Another employee explained that the former programming chief's promotion was largely due to his success in producing hit shows in collaboration with influential talents like Nakai.
The Mainichi
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
'Friendship marriages' providing partnership outside societal norms in Japan
HAKODATE, Japan (Kyodo) -- Three years have passed since Satsuki and Minato, who are in their 30s and live in the Chugoku region of western Japan, agreed to enter into a nonsexual "friendship marriage." The matrimony of the two, who in a recent interview used pseudonyms when sharing their life-changing decision, was deliberate and different from a marriage arrangement done to obtain a visa, for example. But Satsuki and Minato are just one of a growing number of couples who see practical advantages to friendship marriages due in part to preferential treatment with social security benefits. Many of them choose to do so despite it contradicting their sexual orientation. A Tokyo-based marriage agency, which connects people wishing to enter into such arrangements, has seen over 300 friendship marriages in the past decade. The case of Satsuki and Minato provides one example of a couples' decision to choose a life partner with whom they have no romantic feelings or sexual desire. Satsuki, Minato's wife, dates women and is not attracted to men. Her mother, who has no idea of her daughter's sexual orientation, used to urge her to get married whenever they would see each other. Satsuki says "The Full-Time Wife Escapist," a TV drama series aired in 2016 on Japan's TBS, introduced her to the idea of viewing married couples as an "employer-employee," contractual relationship, opening her mind to marriage not based on sex or love. Minato, on the other hand, views women romantically but is only sexually attracted to men. He had enjoyed spending time alone, but when his father told him "it's about time we see some grandchildren," a friendship marriage became a wise option. In 2019, the pair met in an online forum dedicated to friendship marriage applicants. After confirming that they had similar core values, they moved in together and met each other's parents before registering their marriage in November 2021. Two years later, Satsuki gave birth to a child using the "syringe method" fertility treatment. "Adorable," the couple says when speaking of their child. Both Satsuki and Minato admit to not being "each other's type." Intimate contact is nonexistent, but they do things as a family unit, such as socializing with friends. Satsuki describes her partner as "a not-too-close cousin." Minato says of her with a laugh, "We are comrades-in-arms who live together." Neither of their parents know the nature of their relationship. At Colorus Friendship Marriage, an agency established in Tokyo in 2015, 316 couples had entered into such unions over 10 years through February this year. About 80 percent of male members are sexually attracted to men, while more than 90 percent of females are not sexually drawn to either men or women. Their sexuality is a personal and diverse aspect of who they are, says Colorus representative director Arisa Nakamura, 40. However, according to Nakamura, the reasons given for entering into friendship marriages are not special, but include what one might expect, such as "wanting a life partner" or "giving their parents peace of mind." "We offer an option to those who cannot fall in love or have sex with the opposite gender," Nakamura said. Hiroyuki Kubota, a professor of family sociology at Nihon University, says that although diverse values are spreading in Japan, same-sex marriage not being recognized means the socially accepted belief that "men and women should marry and have children" is still predominant. In some respects, he says, friendship marriages are a "desperate measure" with added practical rewards of social security benefits. Although love marriages may evoke images of undying romance, it is not uncommon for such couples to gradually become closer as life and child-rearing partners as time goes by. A 2024 survey of married couples by the Japan Family Planning Association revealed that over 60 percent of respondents were in sexless marriages, defined as having sex less than once a month, a trend that has been steadily increasing. Couples may move on to more practical matters once the romance has died, Kubota suggested. "If this is the case, then there should be couples who enter into marriage as 'partners in life' from the very beginning." (By Yu Seo)
South China Morning Post
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
In Japan, ‘friendship marriages' provide partnership outside societal norms
Three years have passed since Satsuki and Minato, who are in their 30s and live in the Chugoku region of western Japan, agreed to enter into a nonsexual 'friendship marriage'. Advertisement The matrimony of the two, who in a recent interview used pseudonyms when sharing their life-changing decision, was deliberate and different from a marriage arrangement done to obtain a visa, for example. But Satsuki and Minato are just one of a growing number of couples who see practical advantages to friendship marriages due in part to preferential treatment with social security benefits. Many of them choose to do so despite it contradicting their sexual orientation. A Tokyo-based marriage agency, which connects people wishing to enter into such arrangements, has seen more than 300 friendship marriages in the past decade. The case of Satsuki and Minato provides one example of a couples' decision to choose a life partner with whom they have no romantic feelings or sexual desire. Satsuki, Minato's wife, dates women and is not attracted to men. Her mother, who has no idea of her daughter's sexual orientation, used to urge her to get married whenever they would see each other. Advertisement Satsuki says The Full-Time Wife Escapist, a TV drama series aired in 2016 on Japan's TBS, introduced her to the idea of viewing married couples as an 'employer-employee', contractual relationship, opening her mind to marriage not based on sex or love.
Gulf Today
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Top Japanese TV executives quit after misconduct claims against celebrity presenter
The chairman and president of Japan's Fuji Television resigned on Monday, weeks after a celebrity presenter was accused of sexual assault, causing a public relations storm and the mass exit of advertisers. A leading tabloid magazine reported last month that Masahiro Nakai, a J-pop megastar turned TV host, had performed a sexual act without a woman's consent in 2023. The 52-year-old Nakai reportedly later paid the woman 90 million yen ($570,000) and the pair signed a non-disclosure agreement. After network staff were accused of trying to cover up the scandal, dozens of brands, including McDonald's and Toyota, pulled their advertisements from the private broadcaster. As pressure mounted, Fuji TV said its president Koichi Minato and chairman Shuji Kanoh were stepping down. "I would like to apologise sincerely to the women concerned for failing to provide adequate care due to a lack of awareness of human rights," Kanoh told reporters on Monday. "I apologise to the viewers, advertisers, company members, shareholders... for the great concern and inconvenience caused by the series of news reports," he added. Earlier this month, Minato admitted that Fuji TV was aware of the Nakai scandal before it was reported by local media. The company denies claims that its staff were involved in organising Nakai's meeting with the woman, which allegedly took place at the star's home. Nakai — a former member of the boy band SMAP, which swept charts across Asia in the 1990s and 2000s — announced his retirement on Thursday after he was dropped from shows on Fuji TV and other channels. "I alone am responsible for everything" and "sincerely apologise", he said. He had previously issued a statement saying some of what had been reported was "different from the facts." Japan has never seen a #MeToo outpouring on the scale of the United States or other countries, with many victims fearing a public backlash in a society where men still hold most positions of power. But the Nakai scandal is the latest in a series of reckonings for the media and entertainment industries. One involves now-defunct boy band empire Johnny & Associates, to which SMAP belonged. Johnny & Associates, which has since changed its name, admitted in 2023 that its late founder Johnny Kitagawa had sexually assaulted teenage boys and young men for decades. One of Japan's most popular comedians, 61-year-old Hitoshi Matsumoto, has also been accused of sexual assault by two women. While the tabloid reports about Nakai unleashed a coverage frenzy, most Japanese media have taken a cautious approach, referring to the allegations as sexual "trouble" or misconduct. Some media have reported an endemic culture within Japan's entertainment industry of wining and dining the top presenters, with women staffers invited to join such parties. Fuji network president Minato held a short press conference on January 17, after US activist investor Rising Sun Management said it was "outraged" by the lack of transparency. But the public relations attempt backfired after only select media were invited, video was not allowed and Minato declined to answer many questions, citing a fresh investigation. On Monday, Minato addressed the criticism. "We are acutely aware that we have undermined the credibility of the media," he said. He also revealed that he was "the subject of an investigation by a third-party committee." "I will cooperate fully to uncover the truth and prevent similar problems from happening, and to reform the corporate culture," he said. Fuji Television boasted Japan's highest viewer ratings in the 1980s and early 1990s with its soap operas and popular comedy and variety shows. It aired the first domestically produced animation "Astro Boy" in 1963, and has also produced films including Hirokazu Kore-eda's "Shoplifters" which won the 2018 Palme d'Or at Cannes.
