Masahiro Nakai, one of Japan's top TV hosts and a former pop star, says he is retiring to take responsibility over sexual assault allegations.

Dozens of companies pulled their commercials from Fuji Television amid claims that the company's staff had tried to cover up the scandal. Nakai has denied using violence against the woman, and said earlier on 9 January that he had "resolved" the matter with her through a settlement.

Nakai’s decision came following reports that he engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with a woman that led to a settlement with the victim.

One of Japan's best-known pop stars and TV hosts announced his retirement Thursday after sexual misconduct allegations, in the latest scandal to rock the country's entertainment industry. Japan's showbiz industry was then rocked by another bombshell sexual assault scandal involving Hitoshi Matsumoto,