On January 28, Asahi Broadcasting Corporation (ABC TV) announced that its board of directors had accepted the resignation request of board member Atsushi Shimizu during an extraordinary meeting. Shimizu's resignation will take effect on January 31.

The resignation follows allegations that Shimizu improperly used company entertainment expenses, violating internal regulations. According to ABC TV, Shimizu submitted expense claims for meals under the pretense that external stakeholders were present, while the meals were actually attended solely by internal or group members. From April of the previous year, Shimizu submitted 39 expense claims totaling approximately 1.16 million yen (approx. $7500.00 USD). The company further revealed that the total number of misappropriated expense claims, including earlier instances, may be around 100.

The misconduct was discovered in November 2024 following an internal report. Shimizu admitted to the improper use of funds and pledged to repay the amount in full.

In a statement, the company explained, "Shimizu acknowledged the gravity of his actions, pledged to repay the misused expenses retroactively, and expressed his intention to resign before the end of his term. We have accepted this decision."

ABC TV also issued an apology, stating, "This is an inexcusable act for an executive who should exemplify high ethical standards in a media organization. We sincerely apologize to everyone who has placed their trust in our company, both internally and externally."

The company concluded by committing to improvements: "We will re-examine our internal systems, enforce stricter compliance measures, and work diligently to prevent future misconduct."