The Japanese network Fuji Television and its parent company say its president and chairperson are resigning immediately to take responsibility for a widening sex assault scandal linked to one of Japan’s top TV celebrities.

Japan's Fuji Media said on Monday its chairman and the head of its TV unit would step down immediately amidst a probe into alleged sexual misconduct by a celebrity TV host.

The 10-hour briefing that ended at around 2am on Tuesday sought to begin rebuilding a reputation tarnished by the Masahiro Nakai scandal.