Refusal to Disclose Supplier in Drug Case Puts Added Strain on Hiroya Shimizu’s Agency President

A few hours before his arrest, he smoked at his home

“I can’t say where I bought it.”

Actor Hiroya Shimizu (26), who was arrested on suspicion of violating the Narcotics Control Law (joint possession), reportedly gave that statement during police questioning.

He was arrested on September 3. Early that morning, the Metropolitan Police searched his home in Suginami, Tokyo, and arrested him along with a woman in her 20s living with him, on suspicion of possessing plant fragments containing cannabis components in July.

Regarding the plant fragments and smoking devices seized in the search, he was re-arrested on September 4 for violating the same law.

In questioning, Shimizu admitted,

“There’s no mistake that I had marijuana.”

He reportedly began using marijuana while studying in the United States from September to December 2019, saying:

“From around the age of 24, when my earnings increased, I started smoking more.”
“Since the start of this year, I’ve been smoking several times a month.”

It was also revealed that just hours before his arrest, he had smoked at home. A person knowledgeable about drug-related offenses commented:

“His dependency is quite strong. He must have known it wouldn’t be surprising if he was already on the police’s radar, but even so, he couldn’t stop. He should receive proper treatment at a medical facility.”

Shimizu debuted as an actor in 2012 and appeared in notable works such as “Solomon’s Perjury Part 1: Suspicion / Part 2: Judgment” (2015), “Chihayafuru Part 1 / Part 2” (2016), and the “Tokyo Revengers” series (2021–2023). He also worked as a model, making use of his tall 186 cm frame.

“What a terrible waste. Didn’t he have anyone in his private life he could talk to?”

lamented a film industry insider.

Following the arrest, Shimizu’s agency, Office Saku, stated:

“Our company also learned of this matter for the first time through this morning’s news flash, and we are greatly perplexed.”

and added:

“At present, we have no information beyond what has been reported. From here, we will proceed with fact-checking through our lawyer.”

—that was all they could say.

The company’s president is Miyuki Matsuda, the wife of the late Yūsaku Matsuda, and her sons Ryūhei and Shōta are also affiliated with the agency. Shimizu had originally belonged to a different agency but transferred to Office Saku in 2017.

For Shimizu, whose parents divorced when he was young and whose mother passed away early, President Miyuki was supposed to have been like a parent figure.

An entertainment agency conducted unannounced drug tests

Regarding the route by which Shimizu obtained marijuana, as mentioned at the beginning, he has refused to testify. An entertainment agency insider remarked:

“Is he protecting someone, or would speaking out put himself at risk? The reason isn’t clear, but if he’s indicted, the judiciary may judge that he’s ‘not showing remorse.’ For President Miyuki, it’s also difficult to declare, ‘We will fully cooperate with the investigation.’ After all, her actor isn’t cooperating with the investigation.”

Talent and actor training policies differ widely among agencies. Some intervene deeply into private lives and thoroughly teach social norms, while others separate personal life from work. Some even adopt a policy of respecting talent’s or actors’ individuality and refrain from interfering with their work.

“In that sense, ‘Office Saku’ has always been on the lenient side. I’ve often heard stories about other talents throwing tantrums on set. Leaving aside Shimizu’s arrest, his refusal to disclose the supply route is incomprehensible. I sympathize with the agency, but within the industry, there are also voices saying, ‘What kind of training are they providing!?’” (Manager at a mid-sized agency)

Following Shimizu’s arrest, the importance of physical checks in the entertainment industry is once again under the spotlight. Some production companies are even exploring surprise drug tests for their talents.

“A certain agency once carried out surprise drug testing, and a couple of actors dodged it, giving various excuses. One of them was later arrested for drugs. From a risk management standpoint, surprise testing is effective. To dispel the stigma that the entertainment world is ‘drug-tainted,’ I think it’s very important.”

—Entertainment reporter for a sports newspaper

On September 7, the final episode of The 19th Carté (TBS) was broadcast with Shimizu’s scenes hastily cut out. He had also been slated to appear in NHK’s morning drama Bakebake, scheduled to begin airing on September 29, but it was decided he would step down, with reshoots underway using a replacement actor.

The arrest is already having a major impact on his work. When asked whether Office Saku might cancel his contract or whether there would be compensation claims from broadcasters, the agency did not provide a response by the deadline.

With arrests recurring regularly in the entertainment world, drug purification is an urgent task.