SMAP's Nakai Masahiro Announces Retirement Amid Controversy

Nakai Masahiro, a member of the iconic Japanese group SMAP, has announced his retirement from the entertainment industry amid allegations of involvement in a scandal related to sexual favors. On January 23, Nakai stated, "I will retire from the entertainment world as of today. Once I finish my remaining work, I will also close my company. I take full responsibility for this situation and sincerely apologize for the trouble and losses I have caused to many. I had hoped to meet my fans, but it has become difficult. I am truly sorry for this farewell."

The controversy began when Japanese media outlet Weekly Bunshun reported that a female announcer from Fuji TV nearly became a victim of sexual favors involving a prominent celebrity, later identifying Nakai as the individual in question. The report also mentioned that a female staff member from Fuji TV had allegedly provided sexual favors to Nakai, with the compensation reportedly amounting to approximately 800 million won.

While Nakai issued an official apology, he also denied some aspects of the reports, claiming that not all details were accurate. His sudden announcement of retirement has left fans in shock.

Nakai, along with fellow SMAP members Kimura Takuya, Inagaki Goro, Kusanagi Tsuyoshi, and Katori Shingo, enjoyed immense popularity in Japan for 25 years before the group disbanded on December 31, 2016. As the leader of SMAP, Nakai established a solo agency in March 2020 after leaving Johnny's Entertainment, where he engaged in various activities including acting, film, variety shows, and hosting. However, he now exits the industry under a cloud of scandal.