A: Hey buddy! Did you catch the latest news?
B: Not yet, what's up?

A: Well, it seems there's an ongoing case involving our favorite TV personality, Nakai Masahiro.
B: Oh, really? What happened?

A: Apparently, a panel set up by his network is not talking to his lawyers because they don't want to upset the victim more. They also won't share some evidence with them.
B: Wow, that sounds serious... And what's this about sexual violence?

A: Yeah, it's a pretty heavy allegation. The woman involved claims she was subjected to such actions by Nakai while working for Fuji TV.
B: Man, I didn't expect something like this from him.

A: I know, right? Anyways, his lawyers have asked for the evidence but the panel refused because they feel their investigation was fair and they're bound by confidentiality to Fuji Television.
B: That's rough... They've turned down his legal team twice already, huh?

A: Yep! And even after another request this week, they were denied again on Tuesday.
B: Poor guy... I guess he retired from showbiz over this scandal back in January?

A: Exactly! He was a member of that popular pop idol group SMAP and a TV host too. Can't believe it all went down like this.
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A third-party panel set up by Fuji Television and its parent company says it will refrain from communicating with lawyers representing former TV personality Nakai Masahiro in the alleged sexual violence case, citing concerns over secondary damage to the victim.



The panel said on Tuesday that it is also refusing again the lawyers' request to disclose evidence it had used to determine that Nakai had committed sexual violence against a former Fuji TV announcer.



The panel went on to say that the views of both sides are far apart, adding that its members have found it difficult to bridge the gap.



In a report released late March, the panel determined that the woman was subjected to sexual violence by Nakai while engaging in activities related to her work. Their finding was based on the definition of sexual violence by the World Health Organization.



In mid-May, Nakai's lawyers requested that relevant evidence be disclosed. But the panel refused, arguing that the fact-finding process was appropriate and that it was under a confidentiality obligation to Fuji Television.



On Friday, Nakai's legal team once again demanded that the panel disclose the evidence and provide an explanation, but were turned down in writing on Tuesday.



Nakai was a member of the disbanded pop idol group SMAP. He became popular as a TV emcee and actor.



He retired from show business in January, after a weekly magazine reported the scandal in December.