Former KAT-TUN singer admits to marijuana use

Go and take a vacation to Thailand or somewhere and come back clean.

Thailand is even more dangerous than Japan. Go to Canada, or one of the American states that has legalized recreationally.

I really want to know if they inhaled.

Honestly, he can do better than her.

I’m sure most any guy can do better than her.

I’m not completely against mj, but what I can’t stand is the way it seems to get a free pass, when it shouldn’t. Alcohol and tobacco are often judged more harshly by mj fans who fail to hold their drug of choice to the same standard.

Yeah, because alcohol and tobacco are significantly worse for you than marijuana. Decades of studies have shown this.

The reality is that there is growing research showing increased consumption and higher potency leading to increased psychosis, and therefore increased suicide and violent behavior.

No there isn't. You must be mistaken.

It has been shown that people who are predisposed to schizophrenia may have adverse reactions to it. But they were already predisposed.

I've known too many people who smoked too much, without any adverse reactions either instantly, or in the overall scope of their life, and I've read too much research for the fear propaganda to work on me. Any time you see one of those "studies" you speak of, it's actually an author who wrote their own, often incorrect, conclusions on studies that other people did.

＠Educator60

read my previous comments, I was referring the guy lost his spotless 30 years working in Japan for a joint because the immigration revoked his residence, the "highest" in terms of freedom and time spent to acquire it (永住権 eijuuken)

@Northernlife

I guess you are talking from experience of paying frequent visits to prisons, detention centers, immigration, courts, bar associations... if so see you around.

sourpuss, good post at 08:40 am today. Roses are beautiful, but they usually have thorns. Neither alcohol, tobacco, nor MJ should get a clean pass. Setting aside the differing laws by country for a moment, let's stay globally objective here.

@kohakuebisu

Lol. Don't start. The list is endless...

My missus said that this was the second ex-member of Kattun to be caught for dope.

In keeping with the treatment of Pierre Taki of Denki Groove, does this mean the airwaves will now be clear of Kat-tun music? Is that too much to hope for?

While they're at it, could they give the same treatment of Morning Musume for their member doing that drunken hit and run? That offends me much more than anyone doing a bit of cocaine.

Too bad he didn't take a trip to Canada to enjoy his toke in a way more relaxing environment.

Marijuana on the other hand has been tested more than almost any other drug on the planet. Never been anyone who died from it. On the contrary, it helps a lot of health issues.

The way you state it, marijuana seems completely safe and even healthy.

The reality is that there is growing research showing increased consumption and higher potency leading to increased psychosis, and therefore increased suicide and violent behavior.

Sure, cbd oil has shown positive effects for some health issues, but it can be isolated from mj and isn’t necessarily consumed in the regular drug form.

I’m not completely against mj, but what I can’t stand is the way it seems to get a free pass, when it shouldn’t. Alcohol and tobacco are often judged more harshly by mj fans who fail to hold their drug of choice to the same standard.

Hopefully he won’t get more than 6 months in prison. A medieval unprogressive country in many aspects, smoking a plant with more medical purposes than most prescription drugs and way less dangerous than alcohol. Government controls the people, people do not control the government. Not a democracy.

He was smoking in his own apartment, got a bit high a turned up the radio. Pissed neighbors called 110 and one of the cops suspected he wasn't "drunk". 30 years for a joint. He had a clean record, I'm his translator/interpreter. There are many other stories like this (I work with and against the Immi) but the bottom line of all this is that drugs are no joke here, all your life, spotless record, contributions to society will be irrelevant if you get caught.

Thank you so much for that explanation. I understand better now and totally can see that happening.

Still doesnt explain why the cops got his urine sample though. He had to have been arrested or detained for some type of offense, other than just being a free-range foreigner in Japan.

There are plenty of them down here in Okinawa, and I suspect throughout Japan, and they do nothing to get themselves on the radar of the cops here.

Finally rich

Thank you so much for that explanation. I understand better now and totally can see that happening.

Where's the "grass".

The former singer in KAT-TUN, which was created by major entertainment agency Johnny & Associates Inc. in 2001 and released its debut album in 2006, left the group in March 2016 to launch a solo career.

Here is your "snitch", someone in the agency knew about him smoking, and didnt like he being out of Johnny's.

I have a client, almost 30 years of Japan, clean record, permanent residency. He is locked up right now at immigration for almost 2 years, as he refuses to be deported. The cops got marijuana in his urine, he got a suspended sentence but the immigration canceled his visa and issued his deportation.

Cops didnt just stumble upon his urine sample, he had to have been detained or arrested, which says that your story about "clean record" is BS. You say client, what? His "teacher", because if you are his lawyer, I'd fire you in a heartbeat.

Such a waste of taxpayer money. What's the purpose of punishing people for something they do in private and yet do not really affect anybody else around them? There are other things that are more worthy of police and prosecution procedures than this. And considering how hectic Japanese society is about working conditions in all spheres, can you blame people for using pot as a means to escape for just a moment? Some US states, Canada, and the Netherlands do fine after legalizing marijuana and after putting forward prevention campaigns against DUI.

@thepersoniamnow

Actually his worst "crime" in this story was being a 100% free foreigner roaming Japan on his permanent visa, no strings attached.

I assume most of permanent residents have a family, japanese kids. He was divorced (ex was a nikkei) and didn't have kids in Japan, a very delicate situation as the Immigration can revoke your residency for literally anything, even traffic offenses.

30 years in Japan, but as he didn't have any links or family in Japan, in the Immigration's eyes he was just a temporary guest who caused trouble and should be sent home. It's almost as if they are waiting for an opportunity to boot out foreigners without any links to Japan. Getting married to a japanese girlfriend while in detention didn't help much.

Gambare Japan.

Isn’t admitting that you are way into boy band groups and have first, second and third favorites that you will or will not forgive...kind of sets a (hilarious) stage for you to put yourself on?

You are fully on the J and K pop mania train aren’t you?

FYI - Most girls over 18 in most places don’t like to admit they are into that nonsense.

Use of cannabis isn’t a crime here, but possession is. So to be found guilty, there must have been something other than the positive urine test.

I had thought they could get someone just for having it in their bloodstream in Japan, due to the Japanese government's threats that they could prosecute their citizens who smoke in Canada, now that it's legal.

But reading back on it, now I think they were making an empty threat, since they can't prove possession in another country.

An infinitely uninformed statement.

That marijuana is infinitely better than the untested, unregulated, chemicals they sprayed on untested, unregulated herbs - aka kikendoraggu?

No, it's not even remotely uninformed. That 'spice' that they were selling (also called k2 in America) had people smoking, then driving their cars into groups of people. Or freaking out.

Marijuana on the other hand has been tested more than almost any other drug on the planet. Never been anyone who died from it. On the contrary, it helps a lot of health issues.

And you're trying to tell me I'm uninformed. Ummm, yeah, right.

finally rich:

if you have a life in Japan, stay away from drugs... 

Yes. You'd better believe it whether you like it or not.

Ganbare Japan: "I am really disappointed in Jun-chan"

You should be disappointed in yourself for the woeful lack of education on the subject in question, while probably enjoying the rampant alcoholism in this nation that occurs during enkai seasons (which is all the time), and even smoking. Japan is ridiculous when it comes to marijuana, although you have to wonder about the origin of the family name 大麻 or such, who obviously dealt in growing hemp or hemp products -- which is MARIJUANA. In fact, I bet you don't know a single thing about it, except you've been told it's ba-a-a-a-a-aaaad.

Ganbare Japan!Today  06:05 pm JST

I am really disappointed in Jun-chan. I never would imagine he would be caught up in using drugs. Unforgivable. KAT-TUN was my 2nd favorite group, after SMAP.

I am against drug use too, but "unforgivable"? That's rather harsh.

Very few things in life are unforgivable, and this doesn't even come close to reaching that level.

Words mean things.

Agreed Zichi.

I am a citizen, but ai know many halfs, permanents, and whatnots, but to piss positive and then have residency revoked...

Would you find that highly irregular?

I am basing my logic simply off of life stories and experience, but it doesn’t seem the usual MO.

Finally rich

Very hard to believe your story. permanent residency is permanent. There are many permanent residents who have been arrested for all kinds of crimes, but your saying immigrations canceled his visa and detained him for two years for a positive piss test??

Again this is stupid, an outdated law that punishes people for not self harm, not destruction of property. Just doing something in their own home. Sure there would be more complaints were they drunk fighting ranting or having tobacco on their balcony. But it's Japan and personal choices are at the whims of the group. Happiness is to be frowned apon.

 an infinitely better choice.

An infinitely uninformed statement.

Yesterday some 'expert' on TV was explaining that after those notorious synthetic loophole drugs got labelled 'Kiken-doraggu' ('Dangerous Drugs'), the bottom dropped out of the market and as a consequence most users have sought refuge back in good old-fashioned Marijuana use.

Ironic, but from a health perspective, an infinitely better choice.

Yesterday some 'expert' on TV was explaining that after those notorious synthetic loophole drugs got labelled 'Kiken-doraggu' ('Dangerous Drugs'), the bottom dropped out of the market and as a consequence most users have sought refuge back in good old-fashioned Marijuana use.

Seems to me like a harmless act. Japan allowed marijuana cultivation and use before the USA invaded Japan in 1945. Japan tobacco needs to get on board and find a better product to peddle instead of those cancer sticks. Shichimi togarashi even has hemp seeds in it. Wake up Japan.

The knee-jerk proscription of cannabis in Japan has a strong correlation to the growing popularity of "kikendoragu" which are far more harmful, even life-threatening.

They are, but I don't believe they are growing in popularity, on the contrary, Japan seems to have managed to pretty much get rid of them.

Ganbare Japan!Today  06:05 pm JST

I am really disappointed in Jun-chan

"Jun-chan?" Sounds like you're talking about a six-week old pet kitten.

Just returned from my daughter's graduation in California, and my favorite memory was a small, warm, dimly-lit dorm room where I toked with her classmates and we talked for hours. Weed has a way of breaking down barriers. Too bad for those two.

Does anyone really care? If so, why?

The knee-jerk proscription of cannabis in Japan has a strong correlation to the growing popularity of "kikendoragu" which are far more harmful, even life-threatening. Pot smokers deserve the same rights as tobacco (nasty!) addicts, so let's have more prescription and less proscription of the natural plant products that can help us chill and make our short sojourn on beautiful planet earth more enjoyable.

Oh, no! How disastrous for Japanese society! These hardened drug users have totally destroyed the reputation of the Japanese music industry both domestically and abroad. They must be severely punished! Their CDs must be removed from sale all over the world and all royalties must be forfeited to the Japanese government for casting such a huge cloud of shame on Japan. They also need to spend many years in jail for their crime against Japanese society. How dare they possess a few grams of pot and admit to using it! (Sarcasm button released)

I have a client, almost 30 years of Japan, clean record, permanent residency.

He is locked up right now at immigration for almost 2 years, as he refuses to be deported.

The cops got marijuana in his urine, he got a suspended sentence but the immigration canceled his visa and issued his deportation.

Regardless of your point of view, drugs are no joke in this place, if you have a life in Japan, stay away from drugs. Anything else will be meaningless.

Police are really going to spend time finding out where they got it? It's not rocket science. Go to Roppongi, talk to the Nigerians, exchange money. But seriously, these pot laws are asinine. 2020 is coming right around the corner and you better believe all sorts of people will be smoking up when they come visit for the Olympics. Oh and apparently Chinese-style censorship is in style now on this website.

He's a celebrity, he's going to get a suspended sentence. If it were me, I'd be jailed until my trial and then deported.

What are you basing this on? The one guy I know who got arrested for marijuana possession was not deported.

Smoke extractor full blast?

It could have been anyone in their apartment block who dobbed them in.

I am really disappointed in Jun-chan. I never would imagine he would be caught up in using drugs. Unforgivable. KAT-TUN was my 2nd favorite group, after SMAP.

@Cricky

Don’t believe everything the potheads tell you:

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/01/new-york-times-journalist-alex-berenson-tell-your-children-marijuana-crime-mental-illness-1/

Another problem in Japan with these sort of arrest and the strict law regarding marijuana is the rise of kikendoragu. Self fabricated drugs which are dangerous compared to marijuana due to use of weird substances. Which is why marijuana also has a bad rep here.

That photo is misleading. The photo would lead you to believe they committed murder.

You all saw the new Law passed last year. Japanese Citizens are forbidden by Law to use Marijuana anywhere in the world even if it is legal where that person is.

The police mania for prosecuting people for possessing minuscule amounts of cannabis is costing the taxpayers of Japan a pretty penny and is not sustainable in the long run because cannabis is widely used and is gaining acceptance in all developed countries as evidenced by the now unstoppable wave of legalization. The paranoid drug obsessions of the Reiwa "nanny state" fixated on restricting people's freedom to change their consciousness are doomed to failure just like the failed ruinous "war on drugs" waged by a succession of US administrations. "The times they are a-changing even in Japan, but in the meantime, the rule of thumb is, if you want to avoid the risk of getting grassed up in Japan, don't smoke your grass with them.

a real Japanese man for ya - Taguchi told investigators the marijuana belongs to both of them while Komine said it was hers alone.

He's a celebrity, he's going to get a suspended sentence. If it were me, I'd be jailed until my trial and then deported.

Might as well be the same as jail time when you're a Japanese celebrity. That fall from grace will never recover. Blacklisted, probably chastised from society. Forever be known as the KAT-TUN member who was arrested for drugs.

He's a celebrity, he's going to get a suspended sentence. If it were me, I'd be jailed until my trial and then deported.

Madden at least this time the police didn't hire an airplane, fly to a outlying island hide in the trees and arrest a cancer patient who was using this devils brew to lessen his pain. Curse this reefer madness, just say no and get really drunk vomit on the street, sexual assault and don't remember. The last thing we need is reefer madness.

Lock up these menaces to society and throw away the key! Glad to see the J police spending their resources on such high-profile crimes instead of wasting it on traffic enforcement or child abuse cases!

Watched this morning on TV was pleasantly suprised with the adult commentary. As one commentor rightly pointed out tobacco and alcohol are both 100% poison. But are OK marijuana is viewed as a gateway drug but there is actually very little proof. In fact it's medical properties are proven. Who cares? Did they destroy property? Harm someone? I find it difficult to fathom why adults at home laughing and relaxing are in someway a threat to society. If that's a threat then tickling my wife is also a crime. 2019 and stupidity should be the crime not a herb that offers nothing but an aromatic smell and a feeling of comfort.

Uh, guys, you know beer is legal, right?

Smart.

What is the point of this? Ridiculous to prosecute. And yes, someone must have grassed them up.