Top brass at Japanese network giant Fuji Television and its parent company have stepped down following allegations involving Masahiro Nakai.

The president and chairperson are out after complaints of a lack of transparency surrounding Masahiro Nakai in Japan

The spiralling controversy involves Masahiro Nakai, the 52-year-old media personality who was the leader of defunct male idol group Smap, and mainstream broadcaster Fuji Television. It also highlights the growing role that foreign activist shareholders are playing in compelling change in stuffy Japanese boardrooms.

Japanese TV network Fuji faces mass advertiser exodus after allegations of covering up sexual assault claims against host Masahiro Nakai of SMAP fame.

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The president of Fuji Television Network apologized Friday over allegations it was involved in a sexual misconduct scandal involving Japanese TV host Masahiro Nakai, best known as a member of the now-defunct pop group SMAP, and a woman.

Fuji Television President Koichi Minato, Fuji Media Holding Inc. Chairman and Fuji Television Network Inc. Chairman Shuji Kano, announced on Monday at a press conference attended by more than 400 members of the media that they were stepping down from their positions in the wake of a sexual misconduct allegation against Masahiro Nakai,