Masahiro Nakai, one of Japan's top TV hosts and a former pop star, says he is retiring to take responsibility over sexual assault allegations.

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

The Japanese government on Friday called on Fuji Television Network Inc to regain trust from viewers and sponsors following a sexual misconduct scandal involving popular TV host Masahiro Nakai and the Tokyo broadcaster's subsequent handling of the case.

Major sponsors such as carmakers Nissan and Toyota and the owner of 7-Eleven announced they were pulling ads from Fuji TV over the scandal.

Former star of J-pop band SMAP Masahiro Nakai resigned after several damning reports and suspicions that broadcasting giant Fuji TV covered up the assault case. The scandal is part of a wave of sexual assault cases hitting the Japanese entertainment industry.

Dozens of major Japanese companies have pulled their commercials from broadcaster Fuji Television amid allegations company officials tried to cover up a sex scandal involving one of the country’s most

Japan’s Fuji TV is grappling with a major crisis over its handling of a sexual assault scandal surrounding star presenter Masahiro Nakai, with at least 50 companies pulling their advertisements from the broadcaster.