Fuji TV Director Dies Suddenly at 59, Sparking Overwork Concerns adn Renewed Criticism of Network’s Transparency
A veteran director involved with Fuji Television’s data and news programming died on September 8th at the age of 59 following a cerebral hemorrhage while on summer vacation in Hokkaido, according to an entertainment journalist. The director, an outside contractor as 2011, had recently contributed to both the “It!” program and a special program addressing a Fuji TV controversy that aired on July 6th.
News of the death prompted immediate speculation of overwork among those involved with “It!”,with some whispering “karoshi” – death from overwork. An entertainment journalist reported the director had expressed discomfort with the special program, stating, “I’m not an employee of CX, but I don’t want to make anything like this.”
When questioned by Smart FLASH, fuji TV confirmed the staff member’s death but declined to provide further details, citing privacy concerns. This response has drawn sharp criticism online, with commenters accusing the network of a “cover-up.”
“The compliance department of Fuji TV is not working as was to be expected,” one social media user posted. Others called for the establishment of a third-party inquiry.
The incident has resurfaced past criticisms of Fuji TV’s handling of internal issues, specifically referencing the 2023 case involving Masahiro Nakai and a former female announcer. In that instance, an entertainment professional noted, company leadership allegedly withheld information from the compliance department, prioritizing the perceived recovery of the announcer and citing privacy concerns, effectively silencing the victim.
“Viewers have been strict about whether this response is appropriate,” the source said,questioning the extent of Fuji TV’s stated “reform.”
