Ryoko Yonekura Not Indicted but Still Facing Lingering Damage Unrelated to Scandal Reports
Her live-in dancer partner is not in Japan
She is in a desperate, do-or-die crisis—
It was reported that actress Ryoko Yonekura (50) had been referred to prosecutors on suspicion of violating the Narcotics Control Act, among other charges. The news was carried on January 20 by FNN Prime Online and others.
According to investigative sources, the Kanto-Shinetsu Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare’s Narcotics Control Department—commonly known as the “Matori”—conducted a search of Yonekura’s condominium residence last summer. Substances believed to be drugs were seized, and forensic testing later confirmed them to be illegal.
Regarding Yonekura, Shukan Bunshun reported last October that the Matori had conducted a raid, and an article at the beginning of this year ran with the headline “Arrest Warrant Requested.”
At the end of last December, Yonekura commented on her agency’s website:
“As reported by some media outlets, it is true that investigative authorities entered my home.”
At the same time, she stated:
“I will continue to cooperate with the investigation, but based on my cooperation thus far, I understand that matters have reached a certain point.”
Yonekura had been living with a dancer of Argentine nationality at her home. This dancer had also been marked as a suspect, but shortly after the Matori’s search, he fled Japan. He canceled his planned return to the country, and his whereabouts are currently unknown.
A referral to prosecutors roughly means sending the results of the investigation so far to the prosecutors. The prosecutors then examine the materials and decide whether or not to indict.
At that point, what may become a stumbling block is the fact that the cohabiting dancer is not in the country. An investigative source explained:
“To go after a major figure of Ms. Yonekura’s stature, the Matori and prosecutors would coordinate in advance. In this case, it is assumed that prosecutors believed the case should be pursued as a joint possession charge, and that doing so would require the ‘simultaneous securing’ of both Ms. Yonekura and the dancer.”
Her trusted manager has left
Many believe that Yonekura will ultimately not be indicted. Speaking to this site, a reporter from the social affairs desk of a national newspaper said:
“Multiple drugs and paraphernalia were seized from her home. It may look as though the outer moat has been filled in, but if the case actually goes to trial and Ms. Yonekura claims, ‘These are not mine,’ it’s questionable whether the prosecution could sustain the case.”
At present, Yonekura is neither clearly innocent nor clearly guilty—she is merely a person under suspicion. Even so, even if she is not indicted, the damage would be immeasurable. The fact remains that the Matori searched her home and illegal substances were found in her room.
In the news, the phrase suspected violation of the Narcotics Control Act was repeated over and over. A television industry insider said with a sigh:
“Given the movements of the investigative authorities, this outcome was predictable, but it’s still shocking… The level of damage from a referral to prosecutors is completely different from that of mere tabloid suspicion reports. With coverage this extensive, it’s hard to expect new offers. Commercial sponsors won’t be able to step in lightly either. It would be a different story if Ms. Yonekura herself were able to prove her innocence at a press conference and convince the public.”
Yonekura has starred in numerous hit works, led by the Doctor X series. Because her talent is beyond doubt, voices of regret can be heard from people in talent agencies over the fact that she now bears the cross of having been referred to prosecutors for suspected violation of the Narcotics Control Act.
In particular, many point to her independence from the major talent agency Oscar Promotion in the spring of 2020 as a “turning point.” An executive at a talent agency said:
“Around the fall of 2023, when we happened to be on the same set, Ms. Yonekura once said weakly, ‘What should I do!?’ The manager who had left her previous agency with her and supported her had quit, she said. It seemed she was struggling with having to handle everything herself.
But when you really listened, her concern was surprisingly basic—her contact information for job offers wasn’t being shared within the TV industry, and she didn’t know ‘how to make it widely known.’ I remember thinking, ‘Is she really okay?’”
There is also a clear difference between being with a major agency and running a personal office when it comes to dealing with scandals. Another talent agency insider commented:
“With a personal agency, you inevitably end up being the top yourself. At a major agency, there’s always someone senior—a chief manager or the company president. Having people who can warn you makes a huge difference. In terms of recovering from a scandal, being with a large production company that can provide organized support is overwhelmingly advantageous.
First, the key issue is whether Angel Flight THE MOVIE, scheduled for worldwide release on February 13, will be released without problems. If it were to be shelved, she would be hit with enormous penalty fees.”
This site asked Amazon Japan, which is distributing Angel Flight THE MOVIE, whether the referral to prosecutors would affect the release, but no response was received by the deadline.
Whether she is indicted or not, there is no doubt that a harsh future awaits Yonekura.
PHOTO： Kazuhiko Nakamura