Scandals can send a celebrity’s career careening off a cliff. This is especially true in Japan, where minor violations of the social code can lead to major personal repercussions.
But even by Japanese standards the fallout from the June 2 arrest of actor Ryo Hashizume, 30, for stimulants possession was extreme. On June 5, the production committee for “Tatara Samurai,” a period drama in which Hashizume has a supporting role, decided to withdraw the film from 280 theaters, effective June 9. (The decision has since been altered — more on that in a bit.)
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.