Light Sentenced Despite Two Drug Arrests of Former KAT-TUN Member Koki Tanaka

A man in a black suit with top and bottom and hair all back nodded his head repeatedly as he listened to the judge’s words.

‘One year and eight months in prison, suspended for three years.’

He did not move an inch as he heard the verdict. When the court closed, he bowed deeply to the presiding judge for about five seconds.

On June 20, Tanaka, a former member of KAT-TUN, was convicted of violating the Methamphetamine Control Law (use and possession). The sentence was one year and eight months in prison, less than the two years sought by the prosecution, with a three-year suspended sentence. Tanaka was silent throughout, except for answering “Hai” to a question from the presiding judge.

Tanaka was arrested by the Aichi Prefectural Police on February 24 of this year. He was suspected of possessing approximately 0.164 grams of methamphetamine on January 30 at a business hotel in Nagoya City. The day before, on January 29, he had posted a bizarre photo of a full-body tattoo on his Instagram.

On the day of his arrest, he was scheduled to perform at a live concert in Nagoya City, but he had to cancel it suddenly because of his poor health. In response to police questioning, he initially denied the charges, saying, ‘I don’t know.’ However, he later admitted that the methamphetamine belonged to him, and on March 25 he was released on bail from the Naka Police Station of the Aichi Prefectural Police Department, where he had been detained.

What he said in his video after he was released on bail

Immediately after being released on bail, on March 27, Tanaka updated his You Tube channel and apologized.

“I believe that no matter what the reason may be, the fact that I have done something I should not have done should never be forgiven. I believe that it was not my family, music, live music clubs, or events that betrayed and damaged the people I cared about this time, but my own weakness and naivety. I will properly bear the responsibility and make amends”, said Tanaka

In May 2005, Tanaka was arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department on suspicion of violating the Marijuana Control Law (charges were dropped in June of the same year due to insufficient evidence). Despite being arrested twice for drugs, the sentence handed down this time was suspended. Judge Heijo stated, “I don’t think he had much of a resistance to illegal activities, and I am not without concern about whether he will be able to easily get off drugs,” but he also explained the reason for the relatively light sentence.

He said, “I regret it a lot. He has the support of his father and family. I want to believe his words, ‘I will never touch drugs again.”

Tanaka’s father has promised to fully support his son. The former top idol who dabbled in illegal drugs is on the road to rehabilitation with the support of his entire family.