Actor Hiroya Shimizu Pleads Guilty to Drug Possession

Tokyo, Dec. 8 (Jiji Press)–Japanese actor Hiroya Shimizu pleaded guilty to violating the narcotics control law, at the first hearing of his trial at Tokyo District Court on Monday. The prosecution demanded a one-year jail sentence for Shimizu, while the defense sought leniency. The trial concluded on the day, and the court is scheduled to issue a ruling on Dec. 19. According to the indictment, the 26-year-old defendant possessed some 0.4 gram of dried cannabis in his Tokyo home on Sept. 3. Shimizu has appeared in many movies and television dramas, including the live-action version of the manga series “Tokyo Revengers,” according to his official website. During the court hearing, Shimizu said that he was under psychological distress regarding his privacy and career. The prosecution argued that he began using cannabis when he was around 22 years old and regularly obtained it through acquaintances. The defense claimed that he possessed only a small amount of the drug. In his closing remarks, Shimizu said: “I strongly regret causing anxiety and inconvenience to many people. I sincerely apologize.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]