Another tragedy strikes Fuji Television as an external director involved in producing their recent internal verification special dies suddenly, raising fresh concerns about working conditions and transparency at the network.

Unexpected Death During Production Period

A 59-year-old external director, identified only as A, suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died in early September while traveling. He had been involved in producing Fuji TV's July 6 verification program "Verification: Fuji TV Problems - Reflection, Renewal and Reform" while simultaneously working on regular news programming.

History of Production Pressures

Colleagues reported that A had expressed reluctance about working on the verification program, reportedly stating "I'm not even a Fuji TV employee, I don't want to make this." His death following this high-pressure production period has sparked discussions about television industry working conditions.

Network's Response and Criticism

Fuji TV denied A's involvement in the verification program and declined to comment further, citing privacy concerns. This response has drawn criticism from industry veterans who see it as dismissive of external staff contributions and reflective of the network's alleged culture of concealment.

Broader Industry Issues

Television networks increasingly rely on external staff while implementing work reform measures for regular employees. This creates a two-tier system where network staff work regular hours while external contractors face intense pressure and unpredictable schedules.

Unresolved Historical Issues

The incident occurs while Fuji TV continues to face scrutiny over previous controversies including the Terrace House incident involving professional wrestler Hana Kimura's death and ongoing questions about their handling of talent management issues.

Industry analysts question whether genuine reform is possible given the network's repeated patterns of response to criticism and tragedy.