Raid Scandal Surrounds Ryoko Yonekura as February Film Release Looms

Investigators entered my home

Ryoko Yonekura (50), whose movie Angel Flight THE MOVIE is set to be released on February 13, is still surrounded by turmoil.

The incident began with a raid report in Weekly Bunshun last October.

“Even before the report, Yonekura had canceled scheduled event appearances, stopped updating her social media, and the media were gathering in front of her home wondering, ‘What on earth happened?’ When the raid report came out at that timing, the industry was thrown into confusion,” said a reporter for a sports newspaper.

Amid this, Yonekura, who had remained silent, issued a statement on her official website on December 26. In it, she wrote:

〈As some reports have stated, it is true that investigative authorities entered my home〉

Acknowledging the raid, she went on to say:

〈I will continue to cooperate with investigations, but with the cooperation so far, I recognize that a certain stage has been completed〉

She indicated that the investigation had reached a stage of resolution and implicitly declared her innocence.

There seems to be a reason why she chose to make this announcement at the end of the year, with the movie Angel Flightscheduled for release in February.

“Although it is a movie version of a popular drama, the release will be worldwide via Amazon Prime. If this scandal causes the film to be shelved, she would be liable for a huge penalty. Even if it is released, if the scandal causes it to flop, that would still be a major blow. Since she is now managed solely by her personal agency, Yonekura has to bear all responsibility herself. This release is literally a matter of her acting career being on the line,” said a TV station insider.

However, a talent agency source told this site:

“Yonekura has support from big names in the film industry, who act as her backers. Even if this scandal makes appearances on terrestrial TV difficult, it won’t affect movies or online programs. In that sense, unless she is actually arrested, her acting career should remain safe.”

Nonetheless, Weekly Bunshun, released on January 8, reported a follow-up: illegal drugs were seized from Yonekura’s home, and an arrest warrant had been requested. The situation remains unpredictable, including the movie’s release—there is still no room for certainty.

[YouTube] FRIDAY Digital’s ‘Entertainment Reporter Channel’ features active entertainment journalists explaining in detail under the title “Ryoko Yonekura: How the Upcoming Movie Release Will Affect Her Acting Career”, discussing the future of Yonekura’s raid reports, as well as updates on Nanako Matsushima starring in a drama for the first time in six years and Mao Inoue appearing in a drama for the first time in three years.