Actor Makoto Sakamoto, 42, known for the TV series “Liar Game,” made headlines when he was arrested last week on suspicion of domestic violence. Media reports quoted police as saying Sakamoto allegedly assaulted his wife and her mother in his apartment in Taito Ward, Tokyo, on March 30.
Around the same time, the eastern Tokyo ward had been gaining attention as the hub of one of the capital’s major COVID-19 clusters, with more than 100 infections reported.
No link has been made between Sakamoto’s alleged abusive behavior and the spread of COVID-19, but support groups have warned that fears over the new coronavirus that causes the disease may fuel abuse.