According to his lawyer, Yusuke Iseya used marijuana for easing stress and pressure. Photo: Iseya Yusuke/Instagram
Japanese actor Yusuke Iseya has been sentenced to one year in jail, with the sentence suspended for three years, on Tuesday (Dec 22) for illegal drug possession.
Iseya, 44, was arrested by the Japanese police in September after he was found with four packs of cannabis weighing a total of 13.17g at his home in Tokyo.
The actor had pleaded guilty to his charge during his trial in early December. His lawyers said he used the drug to relieve stress and had been using it more frequently as he had been spending more time at home due to the coronavirus pandemic,
Japanese actor Yusuke Iseya given suspended term for cannabis possession
Japanese actor Yusuke Iseya was sentenced Tuesday to one year in prison, suspended for three years, for possessing cannabis.
Japanese actor Yusuke Iseya. (Kyodo)
In handing down the ruling, the Tokyo District Court said, The amount possessed was large and considering the history of use confessed by the defendant, he has been deeply involved with cannabis.
At the same time, Judge Chikako Murata gave Iseya the suspended term because the actor realized the impact that the incident had on his work and pledged to stay away from drugs.
Having started his acting career while studying at Tokyo University of the Arts, Iseya gained fame with roles in a series of television dramas and films. His work includes the film version of the hit comic series Rurouni Kenshin and the 2019 blockbuster Fly Me to the Saitama.