Tokyo District Court on Friday sentenced Japanese actor Hiroya Shimizu, known for the 'Tokyo Revengers' movie series, to one year in prison suspended for three years for possessing marijuana. The 26-year-old had repeatedly obtained and used the drug, showing signs of dependency, the court noted. However, it granted suspension due to his rehabilitation efforts.
According to the Tokyo District Court ruling, Hiroya Shimizu, 26, possessed 0.392 grams of marijuana at his Tokyo home on September 3, 2023. Prosecutors stated that he first tried it at a house party hosted by a friend while attending a language school in the United States, and upon returning to Japan, he asked an acquaintance to purchase some from a dealer. In court, Shimizu said he used it to 'relieve stress and relax.'
The court found that he had obtained and used the drug repeatedly from dealers, becoming 'dependent on it,' and emphasized that 'his criminal responsibility is not light.' At the same time, Judge Shoji Miyata imposed the suspended sentence, citing Shimizu's participation in a self-help group as evidence of rehabilitation efforts.
Shimizu appeared in the live-action adaptation of the hit manga 'Tokyo Revengers,' which features time travel and a gang of Japanese youths. He was also cast in the 'Chihayafuru' films, based on a comic about players of the traditional Japanese card game karuta. The case highlights Japan's strict drug laws.