Former actress and singer Noriko Sakai was sentenced Monday to a suspended 18-month prison term for possessing and using illegal drugs in July and August.
The Tokyo District Court gave a three-year suspended term to the 38-year-old Sakai, who had gone into hiding for six days before turning herself in at a police station.
Presiding Judge Hiroaki Murayama said that although her crime was serious, he decided to suspend her prison term because she owned up to her charges and demonstrated deep regret.