フジテレビ問題が象徴する日本の特質。世界的視野で捉えよう!

豊田朋子

豊田朋子

テーマ:今週の授業(Global youth)

“Be a witness to history!”「歴史の目撃者なろう!」

 週刊文春」が中居正広氏(52)の女性トラブルについて一部報道内容に誤りがあり、訂正して謝罪しました。
 文春の誤報は、決してあってはならないことです。
 しかしながら、やはり、一度この問題について、次世代の皆さんは、マクロな、グローバルな視野でとらえてみる必要があります。
 今一度、海外メディアによるフジテレビ問題の報道を通して、世界標準からすると、どの点が問題なのか、企業のガバナンス、ジェンダー問題、報道の在り方など、先進国とされる日本の異質な特徴が浮かび上がります。
 
 当会の中高クラスの肝は、リアリティーです。
“わ~、フジテレビが、なんか、やばいことになっているなぁ。”
と皆思っていますよね。

 その「やばい」を英語で、グローバルな視野でリアルに理解してみるのです。
 この件は、ジャニーズ問題と同様、良い意味でも悪い意味でも、日本の芸能界、メディアの転換期として歴史に残ります。
 皆さんは、その、目撃者にならなければなりません。
 世界的視野で、英語で、以下、イギリス、アメリカ、香港のメディア報道の批判点(英検準1級レベル)を、英語でまとめてみたので、本日、読解しましょう。

 Different media outlets have focused on various critical aspects of the Fuji Media sexual assault scandal. Here are the key viewpoints from American, British, and Hong Kong media:
1. Criticism of Fuji Media’s Handling of the Allegations
•Several outlets, including The Independent (UK) and RTHK (Hong Kong), criticized Fuji Media for its delayed response. Reports indicate that the company was aware of the allegations as early as June 2023 but chose not to investigate or disclose them due to privacy concerns and settlement

•The company’s initial response was described as a “cover-up,” with The Independent highlighting that its 17 January press conference was restricted to selected media and failed to provide substantial answers.
•Hong Kong-based RTHK noted that the scandal raised broader concerns about the exploitation of women in Japan’s entertainment industry
.
2. Corporate Governance and Investor Backlash
•American media, particularly investment-focused sources, have criticized Fuji Media’s governance structure. The Independent reported that Dalton Investments, an American activist shareholder and Fuji Media’s second-largest investor, issued a public letter demanding a thorough investigation and warning of financial consequences
independent.co
.
•The UK-based Zennor Asset Management also criticized the company’s lack of transparency, calling its crisis management “tone-deaf”
independent.co
.
•Advertiser withdrawals, including major brands like Toyota and McDonald’s, were seen as a reflection of corporate Japan’s slow adaptation to modern accountability standards
independent.co
.
3. Broader Issues in Japan’s Entertainment Industry
•British and Hong Kong media, including The Independent and RTHK, placed the Fuji Media scandal within a larger conversation about systemic exploitation in Japan’s entertainment industry
news.rthk

independent.co
.
•The handling of the case has drawn parallels with Japan’s broader #MeToo movement, which has been slow to gain traction compared to Western countries
independent.co
.
4. Public and Media Censorship Concerns
•Some media reports noted that Japanese outlets were initially hesitant to cover the allegations comprehensively, raising concerns about press freedom in Japan. The heavily controlled press conference on 17 January was seen as an attempt to limit journalistic scrutiny
independent.co
.
Conclusion
While American and British media focused on corporate governance failures and investor concerns, Hong Kong media emphasized gender exploitation and press freedom. Across all reports, there was a consensus that Fuji Media’s crisis management was inadequate and reflective of deeper structural issues within Japan’s media and entertainment industries.

Do you think this issue reflects the core of Japanese culture and society?
ChatGPT:
 Yes, this issue does reflect some deeper aspects of Japanese culture and society, particularly in terms of corporate hierarchy, gender dynamics, media control, and societal attitudes toward scandals. Here are some key cultural factors at play:
1. Corporate Hierarchy and Crisis Management
•Japanese corporate culture is often characterized by hierarchical decision-making and risk avoidance. Fuji Media’s reluctance to address the allegations swiftly aligns with a broader tendency in Japanese companies to prioritize internal harmony over transparency.
•As seen in past scandals (e.g., the Olympus accounting fraud and the Johnny Kitagawa sexual abuse case), there is a pattern of delaying acknowledgment of wrongdoing until public pressure becomes overwhelming.
•The resignation of top executives only after advertiser and investor pressure suggests that business interests, rather than ethical considerations, drove the response—a common criticism of Japanese corporate governance
independent.co
.
2. Gender Inequality and Attitudes Toward Sexual Misconduct
•Japan ranks low in global gender equality indices, and cases of sexual harassment and misconduct in the workplace and entertainment industry have often been underreported due to fear of retaliation or lack of institutional support.
•Unlike in the West, where the #MeToo movement gained widespread traction, Japan has been slower to embrace open discussions on sexual violence, as seen in how Fuji Media initially dismissed the accusations
independent.co
.
•The practice of “dinner entertainment” involving female celebrities and executives—highlighted in the Fuji scandal—is a long-standing yet problematic aspect of Japan’s media and corporate culture, where women are often placed in subordinate, entertainment-focused roles
news.rthk
.
3. Media Control and Censorship
•The Japanese media landscape is known for self-censorship, especially when reporting on powerful corporations and celebrities. Fuji Media’s restricted press conference and lack of transparency reflect how media organizations often act in self-interest rather than as independent watchdogs.
•Many Japanese news outlets initially avoided covering the Fuji scandal in depth, leaving international media (such as The Independent and RTHK) to take a more critical stance
independent.co
.
•The interconnected nature of Japan’s media and corporate world—where TV networks rely heavily on advertising revenue—makes it difficult for journalists to report on powerful figures without facing backlash.
4. The Culture of Shame and Silent Settlements
•In Japan, public scandals often lead to public apologies and resignations rather than direct legal consequences. The resignation of Fuji executives and Masahiro Nakai’s vague apology for “causing trouble” are consistent with the cultural preference for social atonement over legal accountability.
•The use of private settlements in cases of misconduct is also common, as seen in this case, where the victim reached a settlement with Nakai rather than pursuing a legal case
news.rthk
.
Conclusion
 This scandal highlights structural issues within Japan’s corporate governance, gender relations, media ethics, and crisis management culture. While the global reaction has been critical, domestic responses suggest a gradual but slow shift toward greater accountability. The involvement of foreign investors and advertisers in pressuring Fuji Media shows how international influences are challenging traditional Japanese corporate norms, potentially pushing the country toward more transparency and gender equality in the long run.

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文字と音の法則で学ぶ「フォニックス教授法」をベースに、日本の子どもに欠けがちな発信力をはぐくむプログラムを実施。本格的な英語プレゼン大会で成果を発表。専門訓練を受けたプロ講師たちが熱意を持って指導する

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