July 1, 2026
The Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association (JBA) recently released a proposal titled “Recommendations for Promoting Gender Equality in the Commercial Broadcasting Industry,” urging its 207 member companies to address the issue of male dominance in the workplace.
Following the sexual abuse scandal involving the former talent agency Johnny & Associates as well as allegations of sexual harassment and assault involving a former TV personality at Fuji Television, the JBA adopted an “Emergency Human Rights Action” in May of last year. As part of this initiative, the federation created a dedicated “Gender Equality Promotion Project” to address gender-based workplace harassment, and compiled the proposal after holding extensive discussions.
According to the JBA, as of July 2025, among member companies’ permanent employees, 15,324 were men (70.9%) while 6,300 were women (29.1%). Among those in managerial positions (8,806), women accounted for only 17.1% (1,503).
The proposal acknowledges the significant gender disparity in the number of management level decision-makers and the tendency of male employees to make value judgments at the forefront of reporting and program production. It states that this reality should be recognized at all levels, from top management to the front lines.
Furthermore, the proposal calls for the establishment of flexible systems appropriate to the broadcasting industry in order to make it easier for both men and women to take advantage of reduced-working hour arrangements as well as childcare and family-care leave.
The JBA also questions the practice of accepting a program format composed of “male anchors or hosts” paired with “young female assistants”.
It expresses self-reflection, “Trapped by prejudice and inappropriate stereotypes, we may have unconsciously reproduced them through our broadcast programs.”
All broadcasting companies are required to make efforts to meet the targets outlined in the JBA proposal.
Past related articles:
> Sex scandal involving Fuji TV exposes media companies’ corporate ethics regarding human rights [January 29, 2025]
> JCP proposes measures to provide relief for Johnny’s sexual victims and for recurrence prevention [November 11, 2023]
Following the sexual abuse scandal involving the former talent agency Johnny & Associates as well as allegations of sexual harassment and assault involving a former TV personality at Fuji Television, the JBA adopted an “Emergency Human Rights Action” in May of last year. As part of this initiative, the federation created a dedicated “Gender Equality Promotion Project” to address gender-based workplace harassment, and compiled the proposal after holding extensive discussions.
According to the JBA, as of July 2025, among member companies’ permanent employees, 15,324 were men (70.9%) while 6,300 were women (29.1%). Among those in managerial positions (8,806), women accounted for only 17.1% (1,503).
The proposal acknowledges the significant gender disparity in the number of management level decision-makers and the tendency of male employees to make value judgments at the forefront of reporting and program production. It states that this reality should be recognized at all levels, from top management to the front lines.
Furthermore, the proposal calls for the establishment of flexible systems appropriate to the broadcasting industry in order to make it easier for both men and women to take advantage of reduced-working hour arrangements as well as childcare and family-care leave.
The JBA also questions the practice of accepting a program format composed of “male anchors or hosts” paired with “young female assistants”.
It expresses self-reflection, “Trapped by prejudice and inappropriate stereotypes, we may have unconsciously reproduced them through our broadcast programs.”
All broadcasting companies are required to make efforts to meet the targets outlined in the JBA proposal.
Past related articles:
> Sex scandal involving Fuji TV exposes media companies’ corporate ethics regarding human rights [January 29, 2025]
> JCP proposes measures to provide relief for Johnny’s sexual victims and for recurrence prevention [November 11, 2023]
