Terry Ito Column Vol.43 Thinking about the future of Nakai Masahiro

I've been pondering the future of Nakai, who unilaterally announced his retirement from the entertainment industry following a scandal involving a woman connected to Fuji TV. Fuji TV's second press conference, held on January 27th, lasted 10 hours and 24 minutes. Chairman Kano and President Minato resigned during the conference, and the following day, Vice Chairman Endo also announced his resignation at the end of March. In his retirement statement on January 23rd, Nakai stated, "I personally take full responsibility," and added, "We have reached a settlement regarding the details of the dispute, so I cannot discuss them." He has remained silent ever since. While it's understandable that he can't unilaterally discuss the issue, which concerns the woman's privacy, it's also true that something is a little hard to accept. He was beloved as a national celebrity, but public sentiment was cold toward him.

How should Nakai Masahiro live his life from now on? I thought about it, even though it may seem like a bit of a bother. He's only 52 years old, and assuming a 100-year lifespan, he has 50 more years to live. Some reports say he has assets worth an estimated 20 billion yen, including real estate and savings. With this much, he could survive without working. He could live a life of leisure. That said, for the next 10 years, he'll be met with curious looks wherever he goes drinking or out on the town. In an age where everyone has a smartphone, it's easy to imagine him being filmed and posted on YouTube. That's probably not the kind of life Nakai wants. So what should he do?

First of all, he must repay his appearance fees to the commercial sponsor "SoftBank," the part-time job service "Timee," and others whom he has inconvenienced. While it's unlikely that his sponsors will demand a refund this time, he shouldn't rely on that. What should he do from tomorrow? Live for others. It's an old-fashioned phrase, but I want him to devote his entire life to "the world and people." During the Great East Japan Earthquake, Nakai visited the affected areas multiple times on Fuji TV's "SMAP x SMAP." SMAP's encouragement must have given courage to so many people. And I'm sure SMAP was also greatly inspired by the efforts of the children there. The circumstances are completely different now. Back then, the TV station and his agency set the stage for him. Starting from scratch now that he's retired won't be easy, but he must do it. There are many people out there who are suffering even more than Nakai, including children struggling with school refusal, children abused by their parents, and those struggling to adapt to society. Instead of running away from the world, I want people to stand up and help those who are suffering now.

How do you live in adversity? Why not use your own money to create a "Nakai Shelter" and provide a "healing space" for people struggling in life? The world may look at you coldly, but if you have conviction, you will definitely get results. I will support and participate. And I hope that one day we can talk about the Yomiuri Giants with a smile.

Terry Ito (director)

Born in Tsukiji, Tokyo in 1949. After attending Waseda Jitsugyo Junior and Senior High School, he graduated from Nihon University's School of Economics.
In March 2023, he completed the Master's program at the Graduate School of Media and Governance at Keio University.
He joined the television production company IVS Television, where he worked on variety shows such as "Tensai Takeshi's Genki ga Deru TV" and "Neruton Benikujidan."
He then went independent and worked on planning and directing a number of television programs, including TV Tokyo's "Asakusabashi Young Clothing Store."
His book "Comedy North Korea" became a bestseller, and he subsequently made numerous media appearances under the name Terry Ito.
In addition to his work as a director, he is also active in a variety of fields as a producer, entertainer, and commentator.
YouTube channelTerry Ito's Comedy Backdrop'
Currently writing a column in LALALA USA
https://lalalausa.com/archives/category/column/terry