Fuji TV Airs Sazae-san and Chibi Maruko-chan Without Sponsors Amid Scandal

Fuji TV is facing an unprecedented crisis, as its flagship anime, Sazae-san and Chibi Maruko-chan, aired without sponsorship placards or commercials. The ongoing scandal involving former SMAP member Nakai Masahiro has severely impacted the network, leading to a major loss of advertisers.

Fuji TV Airs Sazae-san and Chibi Maruko-chan Without Sponsors Amid Scandal

What’s Happening at FujiTV?

FujiTV was apparently forcing its female employees to engage in sexual acts with powerful people at private parties, including Nakai Masahiro. Then Nakai Masahiro assaulted a woman and tried to use money to silence her.

Nakai Masahiro left the entertainment world after the revelation of the multi-million dollar financial settlement with the Fuji TV employee over the harassment accusation.

Further allegations suggest that Fuji TV employees pressured female announcers into attending private events with Nakai, intensifying scrutiny on the broadcaster.

As a result, around half of Fuji TV’s sponsors withdrew their support, forcing significant changes in programming. Many commercial slots were replaced by advertisements from the Ad Council Japan (AC Japan).

Sazae-san and Chibi Maruko-chan without sponsors

The impact became apparent when Sazae-san, a national treasure in Japan and the world’s longest-running anime, aired without its traditional sponsor placard. Instead, the segment featured a silent scene of the family cat, Tama, walking in front of the house.

なんだこれ…. #サザエさん #sazaesan pic.twitter.com/ZTFUjUAT4e

— SSSS.Hamachi (@Hamachi_main) February 2, 2025

Similarly, Chibi Maruko-chan also aired without a sponsor placard, displaying only a still image of its characters.

Financial crisis and investigation

Fuji TV has announced a third-party investigation to review the handling of the Nakai case and its internal policies. However, many sponsors remain hesitant to return until the findings are released.

With this revenue loss, Fuji TV is expected to report financial losses for the first time in its history, according to Nikkei. The network accounts for 70% of Fuji Media HD’s revenue, with the company relying on urban development and tourism to maintain profitability.

via Unseen Japan