6 months past legal drinking age, actress Kanna Hashimoto reveals binge drinking

"Wait a minute, you're 20! I could understand if you were in your 30s but..."

The fine "logic" that the Japanese education system produces.

This is shocking?

People that age group binge drink a lot.

6 months of drinking is not going to cause those issues. She’s been drinking long before 6 months.

Things like this are common in many countries when it comes to child stars. The stress, pressure, and lifestyle does this to them.

This one struck a little close to home. I'm a recovering alcoholic myself, and have (with the help of a short stint in rehab) been able to virtually quit drinking entirely. I hope she gets the help she needs. Drinking every day, especially to that extent, really holds you back, and when you get sober, it's like being released from a prison. It's liberating.

All the best to her.

lack of sleep, unhealthy eating habits and heavy drinking

They've just described 80% of the population under 30. Over 30 it applies to 80% of salarymen.

Why in the world is she admitting this on TV?

I want to party with her. Hell, I was binge drinking way before 20.

Everyone is basically fine and understanding with her harmful alcohol abuse, but, if she had mentioned she smoked comparatively harmless marijuana just once, the country would be up in arms; her TV, film, and CM contracts would be cancelled; and all of her previous products pulled from the shelves.

It says something if you can be a "former idol and singer" at age 20. Is 20 too old for singing?

Some people, Japanese women included, can soak up huge amounts of drink. You can't tell from appearances.

6 months of drinking is not going to cause those issues. She’s been drinking long before 6 months

She was on TV so had to act like she was doing things legally. Most heavy alcohol drinkers or smokers I know started in high school or jr high.

Alcohol abuse knows no boundaries. It can affect people of every age, male or female.

She couldn't wait to get started could she? This is normal for college age adults though. She's experimenting. Atleast she has good taste. German beers are the finest.

Is this her attempt at changing her image from a pure as the driven snow idol to an adult talento? If so could have been much more extreme (Miley Cyrus).

She only started drinking when she turned 20? We're not idiots.

I have issue with the cholesterol connection. I’m 54 and drink way too much. Beer generally, occasionally sake or scotch. Been binge drinking for 40 years. However, every time I have my cholesterol checked they ask me if I’m a vegetarian because it’s so low. I really don’t think it’s related.

At that age, it would be surprising if she didn't occasionally over do it.

Abbey and Norman - really sorry about that. Totally misread the meaning. I shall perform penance by forcing a couple of German beers down my throat after work.

They've just described 80% of the population under 30. Over 30 it applies to 80% of salarymen.

Dis,

You know no one cares about salarymen...….unless the cheques stop coming in!

Hell happoshu & all that crap was INVENTED to keep the masses smashed on the cheap to keep them sedated!

I seriously doubt it given her size, unless she drank really slowly.

Some people can really tip it back. I used to drink with a girl when I was that age - 150cm, just a tiny little thing, but she kept up with me, who as roughly twice her weight.

I saw her on tv last night, she looks like she gained weight, maybe due to alcohol? Either way, her parents better address this because only 20 and already addicted to alcohol is not a great start of her career.

If she is really binge drinking she should try something stronger than beer.

@Jalapeno I think you are highly confused about what Abbey cares about. I suggest its not her drinking, but perhaps people wasting time, spirit and energy worrying about the fake or real antics of celebrities.

A real shame. Hopefully she is helped and does not become a role model to anyone. This is what happens to weak people when they feel themselves a "celebrity"...

And is this really news ? ! ..

Even if she drank herself into oblivion, nobody would care.

I really don't see why this is a big deal, even for an idol as beautiful as her. People will drink because they love to drink, regardless of their demographic. I remember getting my first taste of the sauce even before stepping into my teenage years and saw my friends getting drunk before graduating high school. But having that said, all in moderation.

Let her binge drink whilst she's still young!

I used to binge drink at that age myself. But as I've grown older my drinking habits have eased up to the point where I usually have 1 drink a day. But that drink would be 1 glass of wine with the wife as we wind down for the day.

Chip StarToday  06:46 am JST

"Wait a minute, you're 20! I could understand if you were in your 30s but..."

The fine "logic" that the Japanese education system produces.

Priceless comment!

I'd been binge drinking for a good 4 years by the time I turned twenty so this is not shocking in the least Wonder if she could hang drinking Colt 45s and Olde English quarts like back in NYC in the 1970s. Wouldn't mind downing a few with her to find out. Do your thing, girl!

Ms Hashimoto needs to discover that there are equally pleasurable pastimes....

Eat, drink and be merry.

I think it's all perspective. In London, we have a joke about Californians: 'In California, one drink and you're an alcoholic' . The point being, if you drink six pints in London you... 'like a drink'; however, if you have one drink in California, 'you're an alcoholic'. Obviously, this is very unfair to Americans but the point is, every country has their own perspective on drinking. To me, she 'likes a drink'. It doesn't mean she's a raving alchy. I'm half Irish, brought up in London so I also used to 'like a drink'. I'm now into my 40s and still here. Nowadays, I prefer a cup of tea to a beer to be honest! Storm in a tea cup for me.

 Some people, Japanese women included, can soak up huge amounts of drink. You can't tell from appearances.

I don't know your appearance and maybe you don't binge so often, but for this girl, I agree with Shimazaki, her eyes look as if she was already 30.

important international news NOT

And then when she wakes up one morning with some guy she doesn't recognize...

Before I came in Japan for first time, I was thinking that most of the JP people (especially the JP girls) are not heavy drinkers (mostly because I've read somewhere that their liver can't process the alcohol very well) and as a result they get drunk very fast, from a few drinks.... BUT After 3 years here, not everyday but being out in pubs, izakaya etc quite regularly (not specifying anything ) I am surprised to get to know what is the reality... They have veeeery delish alcohol and cheap too! Not to mention easy to drink, which also makes you go again and again... Not surprised at this news AT ALL...

In the end let’s hope Kanna can go well, and recover, I don’t want to see her suffered get anytime soon. I know Kanna deep inside can do it.

I also learned for the first time on this show that Kanna Hashimoto is drinking alcohol every day. Because drinking makes we feel refreshed, I thought it would be a healing experience for her in the movies like every month. Drinking alcohol every day can make me feel sick and skin is rough, but she is always beautiful. I want to be like her.

Abbey - you cared enough to write a comment

Things like this are common in many countries when it comes to child stars.

The old child star myth. Anything you can attribute to child stars you can attribute to complete nobody's too. And there are plenty of former child stars who can be held up as models of whatever you want to promote.

And then you got all the stars who only made became stars as adults and all their problems, real or seemingly invented by their managers. If I have seen any common thread among famous people its been an insatiable need for attention. Its why I take most of their "stories" with a grain of salt. If they have not been a victim, then they retiring. Only they don't retire. If they were not suffering with addiction then they are happily dating with or married to the love of their life. Only they break up two weeks later.

Yeah, so a presumed angel decided to live a little. I got over it before I even knew.

Keep it up & you’ll end up like John Belushi, but with her, the substance abused is alcohol.

I would love to have a drinking binge with her. party on..we only live once and now is the time to do it..no regrets..