Japan's top actress Yonekura Ryoko was sent to prosecutors on suspicion of drug use.
On the 20th, according to local Japanese media including Fuji TV and FNN Prime Online, Yonekura was recently forwarded to prosecutors on charges including violation of the Narcotics Control Act.
According to reports, the Kanto-Shinetsu Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare's Narcotics Control Division of Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare received a tip last June that Yonekura had used drugs with a man of Argentine nationality and initiated an internal investigation. A subsequent search of Yonekura's Tokyo home was conducted, and during that process a substance suspected to be a drug was reportedly found.
The man has since left Japan, and the narcotics control division has continued investigating whether he was the actual owner of the drugs or if there was joint possession. Based on the secured materials, the case was recently forwarded to prosecutors, drawing attention to whether charges will be filed.
Earlier, in December last year Yonekura said in a statement that it was true that a law enforcement agency had searched her home, as some reports said, but that she believed the investigation had reached a conclusion based on the probes so far and that she would continue to cooperate sincerely with the investigation.
Tokyo prosecutors are reportedly carefully reviewing measures regarding Yonekura based on the materials submitted.
Meanwhile, Yonekura cemented her status as one of Japan's leading actresses through TV Asahi's drama series Doctor X: Surgeon Daimon Michiko, which ran from 2012 and concluded last year with the film Doctor X FINAL. As an actress with a strong fan base in Korea as well, the news has come as a considerable shock to domestic fans.
[Photo] SNS
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