The Tokyo District Court on Friday handed Shigeaki Miyazaki, the pop star known as Aska, a suspended three-year prison term for possession and use of stimulants, noting that he had shown contrition and committed himself to rehabilitation.
Presiding Judge Mikio Uemura said the singer's crimes were grave and said the frequency with which he indulged in illegal stimulants, including euphoria-inducing MDMA, suggests his addiction is "highly habitual" and "serious."
Uemura also acknowledged that Miyazaki, 56, was truly repentant, had shown a willingness to commit himself to rehabilitation and pleaded guilty to all charges. He also said the intense media coverage sparked by his fame served as punishment in itself.