National News

NHK president tenders resignation

Faced with a rising number of people refusing to pay viewer subscription fees due to embezzlement scandals, NHK President Katsuji Ebisawa tendered his resignation Jan. 25.

"I ask our viewers and the general public to trust those who come after me as they work single-mindedly toward the reviｖal of NHK," the 70-year-old Ebisawa said during a news conference, responding to questions about the more than 113,000 households who have refused to pay the fees as of November.

Meanwhile, Kunio Ishihara, head of the management committee, said the committee accepted Ebisawa's resignation because "top officials need to change and NHK must try to make a fresh start if it is to overcome this crisis."

The committee chose Genichi Hashimoto, NHK's chief engineer and executive director, to replace Ebisawa. Taeko Nagai, a former NHK commentator, was chosen as vice president and will be the first woman to take the position.

For months, Ebisawa persistently rejected pressure to leave despite the flak over the embezzlement scandals involving NHK employees that broke starting in July.

The broadcaster has lately also been involved in a scandal over claims that it censored a documentary of a mock trial on Japan's wartime atrocities after being pressured by two senior Liberal Democratic Party officials. (Kyodo)

Shukan ST: Feb. 4, 2005

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