Police Crackdown After Shimizu Arrest May Pull the Plug on Wider Showbiz Drug Links
Studied abroad in the U.S. from September to December 2019
Hiroya Shimizu, once a highly promising actor, was arrested on September 3 alongside a woman in her 20s of unknown occupation, on suspicion of violating the Narcotics Control Act (joint possession). Early that morning, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police searched Shimizu’s home in Suginami Ward, seizing plant material and inhalation devices.
Shimizu admitted, “It’s true that I possessed marijuana,” and the woman also acknowledged the charges, saying, “Everything is true.” Police believe the two were habitual users and are continuing their investigation.
Shimizu debuted as an actor in 2012 and appeared in notable works including Solomon’s Perjury: Part 1 – Suspicion / Part 2 – Judgment (2015), the Chihayafuru film series (2016, 2018), and the Tokyo Revengers films (2021–2023). Standing 186 cm tall, he also worked as a model.
A film industry source who knows Shimizu commented,
“On set, he was quiet and hard to read, but very professional. He could handle a wide range of roles, and offers kept coming. He had ambitions for Hollywood, even studying English in the U.S. from September to December 2019.”
According to police questioning, Shimizu said he first used marijuana during that U.S. study abroad. If he then used it regularly, his drug use would span roughly six years.
An entertainment industry insider familiar with Shimizu added,
“There was nothing unusual about him on set. He wasn’t talkative and wasn’t the type to socialize. During breaks, he would either read the script or use his phone, completely immersed in his own world.”
Hiroya Shimizu first came under investigation in January of this year, triggered by a tip provided to the police. From there, authorities began surveillance and investigated his social connections. On the day of his arrest, multiple TV networks had advance notice and stationed crews around his residence, capturing images of Shimizu being taken into custody.
“The raid on his home was conducted not by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s Narcotics Control Department, but by the Metropolitan Police Department’s Narcotics and Firearms Control Division. This unit, formerly the Organized Crime Division 5, is known for thoroughly tracing supply routes behind the scenes.
They moved early on the morning of the 3rd, likely aiming to arrest the cohabiting woman alongside him for joint possession. Sources suggest that in order to fully understand the scope of the case, authorities prioritized apprehending the woman over Shimizu,” said a reporter from a national newspaper’s social affairs desk.
The sudden arrest has put TBS on high alert, scrambling to respond.
Tens of millions of yen in damages, including re-editing costs
Hiroya Shimizu was appearing in the Sunday drama “The 19th Medical Record”, which aired its finale on September 7. He had also been scheduled to appear as a guest on TBS’s Job Tune: Secrets of That Profession Revealed! on the 6th. Both programs are expected to edit out his appearances. His planned role in NHK’s upcoming morning drama “Bakebake” (starting September 29) has also been canceled.
Previously, TBS’s Sunday drama slot faced another controversy during the prior season of “Caster”, when an alleged affair between lead actress Mei Nagano (25) and actor Kei Tanaka (41) emerged mid-broadcast. At the same time, reports surfaced of Nagano’s “double rendezvous” with South Korean actor Kim Moo-jun (27), after which Kim’s scenes were drastically reduced. A television insider explained:
“The Sunday drama slot is TBS’s flagship. Even if unavoidable, having two consecutive series hit by scandals is significant. Going forward, actor ‘body checks’ will become even stricter. They won’t just contact managers—they’ll use media networks and other resources to thoroughly investigate.”
When actors are involved in criminal cases, reruns and DVD releases can also be affected, causing major financial losses for the network. In Shimizu’s case:
“Editing costs alone could run into tens of millions of yen,” said a TV industry source.
“Right now, the entertainment industry is bracing for potential ‘domino arrests’ stemming from Shimizu. The Metropolitan Police Department’s Narcotics and Firearms Control Division has maintained a keen interest in the showbiz route since its days as Organized Crime Division 5. TV networks and film companies are on edge, but it’s us—talent agencies—who face the brunt of apologies and compensation that are most worried,” said an industry insider.
Shimizu has remained silent about his supply sources. Will further arrests in the entertainment industry follow in his wake?
PHOTO： Kazuhiko Nakamura
