TOKYO (TR) – Last April, Shukan Bunshun reported on an affair between NHK announcer Emi Hatakeyama, who has held positions on flagship news programs such as “News Watch 9” and “NHK News 7,” and a fellow staff member.
Although she was effectively removed from her duties after the report, she will be transferred to the Kanazawa Broadcasting Station this April, reports News Post Seven (Mar. 30).
An NHK insider explains, “Just as she became a regular reporter for ‘NHK News 7,’ Shukan Bunshun published photos of her on a date with a younger, married director within the station. After the report, she requested to step down and has not appeared on the program since.”
“Top candidate”
Hatakeyama has had an unusual career path. Having joined NHK in 2015 as a sales representative before transferring to an announcing role, she was expected to be a “top candidate” to succeed Mayuko Wakuda, who is retiring this March. As a result, he impact of the report was significant.
“Hatakeyama reportedly explained to the station that she had been told by her junior director colleague that he was already divorced,” the same insider says. “The station, having heard similar details from the man’s side, did not issue any outward ‘reprimands’ to her. However, she herself seemed quite shocked by the news. Many colleagues were worried about her, as she appeared haggard when she came to work in the announcer’s office.”
After a year of lying low, Hatakeyama appears to be making a comeback in a new environment.
“NHK’s press release stated that she has been appointed as the main anchor of the evening news program ‘Kaganoto’ at the Kanazawa Broadcasting Station,” the same source says. “She readily accepted the offer from the station and seems determined to make a comeback.”
Similar trouble
Another NHK source mentions similar cases in the past.
“For example, announcer Yumie Yoshiba, whose double infidelity was reported in 2017, has not appeared in public since the report, and announcer Wataru Abe, whose infidelity within the station was reported in 2022, was immediately removed from his position and left the announcing department,” the other source says.
However, in announcer Hatakeyama’s case, if, as she explains, the other party lied about being single, then she is also a victim. It would be natural for her to be hired for the program.
“In recent years, with the increasing demand for online programs and events, many announcers have moved from NHK to online program production companies,” the second source continues. “In this context, the station probably wants announcer Hatakeyama to make a fresh start.”
That source adds that the younger director who was reported as the “other party” also remained in the same department and received no punishment.
“The station likely judged that the relationship between the two was purely private,” the source concludes.
When asked to comment on the matter, NHK responded, “We do not comment on matters concerning individual employees.”
