Asahi Shimbun President Kotaro Akiyama's son was charged Tuesday with possessing marijuana and using an MDMA pill, better known as Ecstasy, earlier this month.
The indictment of Ryuta Akiyama, 35, came after he was arrested March 10 on suspicion of possessing marijuana in Tokyo when he was on probation after receiving a suspended sentence in another narcotics case.
The younger Akiyama, who was questioned by a police officer, was found in possession of about 1.5 grams of marijuana on a street in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward on March 10.
He allegedly took Ecstasy that he bought near the Hanzomon Line's Shibuya Station of the Tokyo metro subway system around March 8.
He has owned up to violating the Hemp Control Law and the Narcotics Control Law, investigative sources said.
"I am startled by my son's stupid act. I want him to take responsibility and pay for it in accordance with the law," the elder Akiyama said in a statement.
A spokesman for the major daily said the newspaper could not comment on the case as it is a personal matter.