Ex-KAT-TUN singer facing marijuana charge released on bail

This guy will get a couple years for Weed, a drug that can actually be beneficial for pain, anxiety, etc.

First offenses in Japan usually result in a suspended sentence. This guy is doing all the things one is supposed to do in such a situation, so he will likely get a suspended sentence as well.

Make it legal, job done!

Hate to be reminded of my taxes being wasted on police witch hunts searching for grams of weed and rolling papers. An end to this anachronistic Prohibition Era in Japan is second on my wish-list for a better Japan coming after an end to the unbearably boring "Cretinous Period" when the right-wing political dinosaurs will become extinct.

Taguchi and Komine, a former actress, had about 2.2 grams of marijuana 

Wow, 2.2 grams of weed! Must be they were planning to sell most of it!

"I promise I will never touch illegal drugs including marijuana*

At least not in Japan. Would be OK anywhere in Canada, several U.S. states, Holland...

Weak.

Unbelievable! Look what they're making this guy do. Bowing down with his head to the ground saying "I promise I will never touch illegal drugs including marijuana and become involved in crime". Get your priorities straight Japan. Spend more money on educating and protecting your children from abuse than on investigating celebs for weed. I think Robert Mitchum had an easier time of it back in the 50s in the US than this guy in Japan in 2019. Seriously, what a joke.

This guy will get a couple years for Weed, a drug that can actually be beneficial for pain, anxiety, etc.

Really? They throw you in the slammer for that long.

He should holiday in Canada...all legal and no, the sky is not falling.

"Wow, 2.2 grams of weed! Must be they were planning to sell most of it!"

you have to be kidding. That's 2 20$ joints, legal in 25% of the world.

@Nippori Nick

He should holiday in Canada...all legal and no, the sky is not falling.

Actually, read an article here on Japan Today last year saying the government would test people at the airport coming back from Canada if they suspected someone of having used marijuana. Not even sure if that is legal.

Here's a link to the article I mentioned in my previous comment. The article expired on Japan Today but found it elsewhere:

http://www.asahi.com/sp/ajw/articles/AJ201810310011.html

Here's a quote from Japan embassy in Canada that was pretty surreal:

"Even in a place where marijuana is legalized, if our citizens smoke, purchase, possess or deliver marijuana, it's a criminal act, so they will be punished," the embassy in Canada tweeted. "Please be careful."

How do you even enforce that re. aspect of consumption?? Haven't heard of anyone nailed for this yet, but wouldn't surprise me as the news just gets more absurd by the day.

Pathetic. What an establishment ass kisser this loser is.

What a sad display of spineless groveling to authority.

To legalize or not to legalize? That's the question that's so tough to answer.

Looking at recent history, many of the countries that have loosened laws on marijuana and even hard drugs have developed serious drug addiction problems. Look at the needle filled streets of San Francisco.

Nations that maintain strict prohibitions on drugs don't have such addiction problems. The reality is that less people suffer and die in these countries. So I lean towards Japan maintaining it's strict stance on this issue.

And yet the Yakuza continue to import crystal meth from North Korea....

@ Concerned Citizen

Nobody consumes cannabis with needles! Off Topic!

Hi from Vancouver, where marijuana is legal!

I just wanted to add my opinion.

Umm... What was the topic again? Can't seem to focus...

Actually, I don't care either way! PEACE&LOVE to everybody.

Enjoy the weekend.

Agree with comments above. You should never feel the need to get on your knees and bow head to the floor for smoking a bit of weed. That is ridiculous.

I understand that it’s ‘against the rules’, but when are people going to start speaking up for themselves? His career is finished, so he should be speaking out at the ridiculousness of the rule banning marijuana. What else has he got to lose?

Sorry he was caught, left off because he is famous. #notjustice

Just looking at that picture and you can figure out how strict are rules in this country.

He gets down on his knees like he committed a slaughter,I am personally against drugs but on the other hand he only harmed himself and this public shame kneeing thing is something absolutely medieval.

I looked at the photo again, and realized that he's not apologizing! He's thinking,

"Grey bricks are so AMAZING and COLOURFUL, and they SMELL so NICE!"

Look at the photo again, you'll see what I mean...

Yep he's done that deep bow in public so he'll get off with a slap on the wrist

Looking at recent history, many of the countries that have loosened laws on marijuana and even hard drugs have developed serious drug addiction problems. Look at the needle filled streets of San Francisco.

Um, look at this one thing that is unrelated and draw a conclusion?

...um yeah, right bro.

So if I were arrested, can I do the same thing and get released? Or is it only for the rich and famous?

So if I were arrested, can I do the same thing and get released? Or is it only for the rich and famous?

First offenses in Japan mostly end in a suspended sentence. So the answer is 'probably yes', though of course each case is taken on its individual merits, and there is no guarantee that you would be.