On September 24, actor Hiroya Shimizu, who was arrested and charged with violation of the Narcotics Control Law, was released on bail from the Wangan Police Station of the Metropolitan Police Department, where he had been detained. Bail was set at 2 million yen. Shimizu showed off his “ninth size” figure when he was released on bail. At a little past 7:00 p.m., Shimizu appeared in a black suit in front of a crowd of about 70 reporters. I apologize for this incident,” he apologized and bowed deeply. He continued, “I am deeply sorry for the worry and trouble I have caused to so many people by my actions this time. I sincerely regret that I have betrayed the people who had high expectations for my future as an actor, as well as my fans. The car that came to pick up Shimizu was probably arranged by the office, and after leaving the station, he drove away to avoid the waiting press. In response to Shimizu’s apology, X received a number of comments, including “I hope he will come back someday” and “I hope he will be rehabilitated,” as well as “Everyone’s first comment after Hiroya Shimizu was released on bail was, ‘His legs are so long! I hope he comes back someday.” In addition, there were also some comments that touched on the actor’s style, saying, “His bijou at the time of bail was too good. On the 24th, we also learned that a new suspect, actor Kenshin Endo, was arrested on suspicion of violating the Narcotics Control Law. The suspect, Endo, was a close friend of Shimizu and had been uploading pictures of himself visiting Shimizu’s home on social networking sites. The police revealed that they had been investigating him for the past eight months, and he was arrested just like a sack of potatoes. In addition, a friend of Shimizu’s, a man in his 20s, who is believed to have procured the marijuana, was also arrested. Shimizu had previously stated that he did not want to say where he obtained the marijuana, but it is believed that the police now know the route he used to obtain it. Now that he has been released on bail, he will await trial, but a source in the entertainment industry said, “It is likely to take quite some time before he can return to work. In cases such as this one, usually a sentence of one year and six months in prison and a suspended sentence of three years is expected, given that this is the first offense. Yusuke Iseya, arrested in September 2020 for violation of the Cannabis Control Law, was sentenced to one year in prison with a three-year suspended sentence. In both cases, there would have to be a significant public outcry if the probationary period were not completed before a return to work would be possible. If the same is true for Shimizu, it will take at least three years for him to return to work.” Shimizu was also scheduled to appear in NHK’s morning television series “Bakebake,” scheduled to air from September 29. He was also scheduled to appear in the TBS Sunday theater production of “The Nineteenth Chart,” but his scenes were cut following his arrest. However, there is still a possibility of compensation for other works. Shimizu may not be able to pay the amount by himself, and his agency will have to bear the burden. Shimizu will have to pay it back to his office later. Shimizu told the police, “I was recommended by an acquaintance in the United States. He said that he started smoking marijuana around the age of 24, when his income as an actor had increased. He lost both his money and his life as an actor.
