Shimizu’s defense team paid a bail bond of 2 million yen, leading to his release from detention at the Tokyo Wangan Police Station. Upon leaving, he bowed deeply before reporters and said, “I sincerely apologize for the concern and trouble I have caused many people.”
In a related development, the police have also arrested actor Kenshin Endo and a man in his twenties, who works part-time, both on suspicion of jointly possessing cannabis with Shimizu. These arrests were confirmed through interviews with investigators.
Shimizu was indicted on September 22nd after being arrested earlier this month for possessing dried cannabis at his Tokyo home. He walked out of detention around 7:15 p.m. on September 24th, wearing a black suit and tie. Facing reporters, he stated, “I am truly sorry,” before bowing for about 15 seconds and apologizing again for betraying the expectations of fans and industry colleagues.
Having made his film debut in 2012, Shimizu rose to prominence with roles in the popular “Tokyo Revengers” series. He had been regarded as one of Japan’s most promising young actors.
During a past police interrogation, Shimizu admitted, “I first smoked cannabis at age 20 while studying abroad in Los Angeles. From around age 24, when my income increased, my usage grew.” The Metropolitan Police Department believes a man in his twenties acted as a buyer of cannabis for Shimizu.
During questioning, Endo, who co-starred with Shimizu in a 2018 film and appeared in an NHK historical drama in 2021, denied involvement. He stated, “I did see something like cannabis at Shimizu’s home, but it was not mine.”
Shimizu, meanwhile, admitted, “Each time, I handed cash to a friend and had them purchase cannabis for me.”
Ahead of his release, fans had gathered outside the police station hours in advance. While many expressed disappointment over the developments, some also hoped to see him in person, fearing it might be their last chance.
https://newsonjapan.com/article/147009.php