Ex-Ginza hostess offered NTV announcer job after employment dispute

TOKYO (TR) – A female college student who filed a suit last month against a television station that had deemed her work history unacceptable for employment as an announcer has now been offered a position starting next year, it was learned on Friday, reports Sports Hochi (Dec. 27).

A special meeting between Rina Sasazaki, a 22-year-old senior at Toyo Eiwa University, and network Nippon TV with a proxy agent in attendance resulted in the station offering her a job as an announcer beginning next April.

On November 14, Sasazaki filed a suit in the Tokyo District Court against NTV, which had cancelled a naitei arrangement, or informal employment agreement, following revelations about her employment history.

Earlier this year, she admitted to the network’s personnel division that she had worked part-time as a bar hostess in Tokyo’s Ginza entertainment area.

Her history, the network subsequently determined, reflected a lack of “integrity,” which is necessary for a desired position as an announcer, and her unofficial offer was terminated.

The second hearing of the trial is scheduled for January 15.

“With a civil case still in progress, we will refrain from offering comment at this time,” said an NTV representative.