Fuji TV announcer reprimanded for sexual harassment in South Africa

Fuji Television took disciplinary action against its employee, sportscaster Testuo Nagasaka, 42, on July 16 for his “misconduct” in South Africa. He has been demoted from his current position as vice manager of the broadcast department and transferred to the administration office, while six supervisors have also been reprimanded with salary cuts.

Fuji’s public relations department admitted sexual harassment was the reason, but refused to provide details in consideration of the victim. Further interviews have uncovered the incident that took place last month in South Africa, where Nagasaka was on an assignment covering the FIFA Confederations Cup.

According to a Fuji TV employee, Nagasaka and the crew went out for drinks after the game. The intoxicated sportscaster asked a female member, who does not work for the company, to take him back to his hotel room where he tried unsuccessfully to woo the woman, in her 20s. Upon returning to Japan, this person filed a complaint against Fuji TV and the incident became public.

Nagasaka has worked for Fuji as an announcer since 1990, and has a reputable track record – some even say that for any sports event or competition, “Japan always wins when he holds the microphone.” But a Fuji TV source admitted he had the tendency to go overboard once he starts drinking.

It’s an irony that this embarrassing incident took place when Fuji TV has just begun working on corporate compliance.

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Latest 15 of 45 Total Comments Show All

GW at 09:12 PM JST - 31st July

hard to believe some here cant figure out whats what in this case, the drunk oyaji gets the young woman to make sure he gets back to the hotel ok, because he has been boozing, then when she has done a good deed, no doubt done because the giri involved, then the drunk tries to get her in his room, what a total jerk, its pretty easy to infer he did more that just ask her to join him, anyone who has been here for a bit I am sure can picture the whole thing.

Kudos on the woman for turning this jerk in!
Icewind007 at 03:33 AM JST - 1st August

It's good to see women of other countries are not as keen on keeping quiet about such matters. But I am sure it'd have to be more than a "woo" to be anything worth mentioning to the public. If she couldn't just get up and walk away from the situation, then, yeah, it's harassment.

In any case, I am almost surprised not to see any "foreigner causing problems" remarks. Oh wait, is it because he was Japanese and not a "foreigner" like the rest of the world? Good time to turn the tables here.
TokyoHustla at 04:15 AM JST - 1st August

It’s an irony that this embarrassing incident took place when Fuji TV has just begun working on corporate compliance.

It's a coincidence but it's not irony.
bdaniel08 at 08:42 AM JST - 1st August

Klein2

Those two fathers would know better than anyone how messed up the business is, but they let their daughters get into showbusiness anyway.

Probably these two daughters will not be faced with "sexual-harassment" in the showbusiness because of these powerful and feared fathers ?
girlinjapan at 01:14 PM JST - 1st August

Icewind007: Do we know if the female is not Japanese? The story didn't specify on whether or not she was a foreigner. To Klein2: Keep up the 'bird' talk, and people might just assume you are not such a 'equality for the sexes' kinda dude ...
kirakira25 at 06:17 PM JST - 1st August

1 in 4 South Arican men admit to having raped somebody in their lives. You don't believe that? You ought to google "South Africa rape statistics"

I am painfully aware of the statistics in South Africa. I lived there. Half of my family came from there. However, those statistics actually mask major cultural differences between ethnic groups which are actually off topic for the purposes of this discussion.

I stand by what I said - South African police can be brutal. As I said before, he got off far more lightly being dealt with by his company, not South African law.
onewrldoneppl at 09:47 PM JST - 1st August

how does attempting to woo a colleague constitute sexual harassment? isn't this more along the lines of intra-office romance? he didn't attempt to rape her so, why did she feel it was necessary to punish him? once she said "no", he relented. it should've ended there. such cry-babies with their nonsense.
bdaniel08 at 10:18 AM JST - 2nd August

One way "intra-office romance" is sexual harassment.

He didnt or he did try rape...we dont know.

"She" is not trying to punish him, society will punish him.

"cries-baby"...?

"nonsense"...?

Are you sane ?
tuneintokyo at 11:46 AM JST - 2nd August

he tried unsuccessfully to woo the woman

She didn't file a complaint with the police because a law wasn't broken, right?
sfjp330 at 02:32 AM JST - 4th August

If the facts corresponds, and this accussation is true, Fuji TV should fire him. Japanese companies tend to wash their hands hoping that this matter will fade. This is the reason, bad behavior is accepted and continues in Japan. Fuji TV has no guts.
LoveUSA at 01:58 AM JST - 7th August

Another loser but at least he was drunk. I know some people who without being drunk behave like him and try to make a woman do what they want even if the woman says clearly no. He is a drunk, the others are mental cases. No respect for both types of idiots.
amerijap at 06:19 AM JST - 7th August

Upon returning to Japan, this person filed a complaint against Fuji TV and the incident became public.

Well done! She knows how to treat the guys with a dirty mind.
AK619 at 09:25 AM JST - 7th August

He must not be an attractive guy, so next time put up some money for thoughs broke chicks. You have to be very careful dealing with young girls these days, there's nothing wrong with a man trying to woo a girl to give up some free sex. The problem is that you risk getting in trouble with desparate money hungry greedy chicks. There's nothing wrong with a guy wanting or trying to get some sex, as long as he dosen't rape or force. People act like touching or hugging a girl in a respectable manner is a crime, its just a matter of nature, but once a girl rejects your sexual advances you gotta let them go.
bdiego at 06:11 PM JST - 8th August

Sexual harassment is a civil offense, meaning she'd sue - which she's doing. It's not a criminal offense, so there's no reason why police would be involved.

If your wife's boss say "Hey, I'd love to get my hands on your big jugs!" she'd sue but there would be zero police involvement.
elbudamexicano at 08:52 AM JST - 30th August

Gosh! I thought only NHK was full of hentais! I guess I was proven wrong.