Prosecutors sought a one-year prison term for Japanese actor Yusuke Iseya on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to cannabis possession in his trial at the Tokyo District Court, while his defense lawyers asked for a suspended sentence.
Wearing a dark suit and a black face mask, the 44-year-old, who was arrested in September at his home in Tokyo, said at the first hearing of his trial that he used cannabis for the first time in The Netherlands and relied on the drug to help him sleep better.
"I'm sorry for having betrayed many people who supported me," Iseya said. He did not disclose who supplied the drug.
His defense lawyers said Iseya's marijuana use was for easing stress and pressure, and that he used it more frequently while spending time at home due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Prosecutors said Iseya, the half-brother of the late designer Kansai Yamamoto, has been using cannabis regularly since he was 26 or 27. The court is scheduled to hand down a ruling on Dec. 22.
According to the indictment, Iseya was in possession of four packets containing a total of 13.17 grams of dried marijuana at his home in the capital's Meguro Ward on Sept. 8.
Having started his acting career while studying at Tokyo University of the Arts, Iseya gained fame with roles in a series of television dramas and films. His work includes the film version of the hit comic series "Rurouni Kenshin" and the 2019 blockbuster "Fly Me to the Saitama."
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