Ryoko Hirosue Arrest and the Panic State That Could Exempt Her From Criminal Responsibility

The agency announced that it was the result of her falling into a panic state

On the early morning of April 8, actress Ryoko Hirosue (44) was arrested on suspicion of injuring a nurse at a hospital in Shizuoka Prefecture’s Shimada City.

Her personal agency, R.H., which she leads as president, posted the following comment on their website on the same day:

“On April 8, in Shizuoka Prefecture, she caused a traffic accident while driving her car, and upon being transported to the hospital, she temporarily fell into a panic state, which led to her injuring a medical professional. We deeply apologize for the immense inconvenience and concern caused to the affected individuals and all those involved.”

The agency also announced that she would be suspending her entertainment activities. However, regarding this incident, there were numerous comments on social media, such as, “Strange behavior has been a pattern since her younger years, so I just think she did it again,” and “Her emotional instability hasn’t changed. She should rest and recuperate a bit.” This has led to questions surrounding the agency’s statement about her temporarily falling into a panic state.

Hirosue has been involved in controversies before, starting with the ‘Taxi Fare Evasion’ report in September 1998, and during the press conference for the 2001 movie ‘WASABI,’ where she was seen crying. At the university she left, she reportedly displayed several problematic behaviors that were described as strange actions.

In June 2023, it was reported by ‘Weekly Bunshun’ that she was involved in a double affair with chef Shusaku Toba (46), and in July 2023, she announced her divorce from her husband, Jun Izutsu (51). After the scandal, she took a break from her entertainment career.

However, in February 2024, she independently established a new personal agency and in April 2024, she made her first public appearance after the divorce, leading many to believe that she was planning a full return to acting.

Possibility of committing assault without awareness

“Ryoko Hirose made her comeback to TV on March 28 this year, on the Fuji TV variety show ‘The Common Ten!’ In the show, she was filmed shopping at a supermarket, showing a happy and positive atmosphere, which was quite likable. There was a sense that she might expand into not only drama but also variety shows, making this incident all the more regrettable.” (Entertainment Columnist)

In an article published by FRIDAY DIGITAL on April 2, Ryoko Hirose’s personal agency responded regarding her upcoming plans:

“Work on the stage reading play in May, which started selling general tickets on March 14, is moving forward, along with other acting work. Since her independence last year, she has also received offers for films and dramas. We are reviewing project proposals and scripts, and will update you as soon as we are able to announce something. Please look forward to it.”

However, the stage reading play has been canceled.

Everything seemed to be progressing smoothly toward her full return, so this incident is truly unfortunate. Psychiatrist Hideki Wada offers the following explanation regarding the incident:

“There are many possibilities, so it is difficult to say definitively, but it is common for people to lose control when they are extremely tired. For example, mistakes like accidentally pressing the gas instead of the brake are often thought to happen only to the elderly, but that is not the case. While the cause of the crash is unknown, it is entirely possible that the impact of the crash affected her mental and physical state, leading her to fall into a panic and act differently than usual.

In this sense, I don’t think there’s anything strange in the agency’s announcement. However, since it involves questions of responsibility, it’s hard to say whether she will face charges. If there was a clear consciousness impairment, I don’t think she would be charged.”

In any case, it seems her comeback will be postponed for the time being.