The Asahi Shimbun announced Friday that its president and CEO, Tadakazu Kimura, will resign on Dec. 5 to take responsibility for his mishandling of erroneous reporting on the 2011 Fukushima triple meltdown and on the so-called comfort women issue in the 1980s and 1990s.
Masataka Watanabe, 55, managing director in charge of administration, personnel and compliance, will succeed Kimura on the day he steps down, when an extraordinary board meeting and shareholders' meeting will be held, the company said.
Kimura will become a special adviser for the Asahi. Senior Managing Director Shinya Iida will become chairman of Asahi's board.