On September 24, actor Hiroya Shimizu, who was arrested for violating the Narcotics Control Law, was released on bail and bowed deeply to the assembled press for about 15 seconds. He bowed deeply for about 15 seconds to the assembled press. The scandal involving the popular actor has caused a ripple effect. Shimizu was arrested on suspicion of possessing dried marijuana at his home on April 4. On the 24th, actor Kenshin Endo, who was a close friend of Shimizu’s, was arrested for violating the Narcotics Control Law, which caused a shock. Shimizu appeared at the front entrance of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Wangan Police Station wearing a black suit and parted hair in seven thirds, and made the following apology. Shimizu made his first public appearance since his arrest, and was commented on X: “Hiroya Shimizu looks so beautiful, like a scene from a movie or a TV drama. He looks so beautiful. Even though he is a celebrity, he tends to look a little disappointed in this kind of scene because he is exhausted and his hair and makeup are not in good shape. The 186-centimeter-tall Shimizu, who was also active as a model, was dressed in a suit, which seemed to accentuate his long legs and good style. Many people must have taken notice of his fair complexion and handsome face. In 2025, he played the role of a young doctor in the July season Sunday drama “The Nineteenth Chart” (TBS), and his work continued to go well. Although he had the looks to attract attention even at the time of his release, he has now given up his own chance in this case. At NHK’s regular press conference on September 18, it was announced that Shimizu was scheduled to appear in the NHK television series “Bakebake,” to be broadcast from September 29, but had to drop out. Shimizu was highly regarded as an actor, playing a wide range of roles from a bullied child to a maniacal and peculiar character. If he had not been involved in the scandal, he would have appeared in a morning drama and had a chance to make a breakthrough. However, his arrest has raised concerns about his future as an actor.” Upon being released on bail, Shimizu’s agency, Office Saku, apologized for the series of disturbances and stated, “We recognize that the violation of the law is absolutely unforgivable and that his actions were an extremely serious mistake. We take the series of actions that have come to light this time very seriously,” he commented. As for the future, we will respect the judgments of the judiciary, and we will confront him strictly, asking him to be deeply aware of his mistakes and to walk the path of rehabilitation,” and expressed our support for him. However, the office has also been greatly affected by the recent turmoil. The office, founded by actress Miyuki Matsuda, wife of Yusaku Matsuda, is home to the “Matsuda Family,” including Ryuhei Matsuda, Shota Matsuda, and Yuhime Matsuda. In recent years, however, Ryuhei and Shota, with their track record as actors, have tended to limit their appearances in dramas rather than consistently appearing in commercial serial dramas. Shimizu, however, had been gaining exposure in dramas and movies, and was probably becoming the “breadwinner” for the agency. In recent years, TV stations have been placing more emphasis on compliance and have become more cautious about using celebrities who have been involved in scandals, so it will be interesting to see how the agency manages Shimizu.
