"Drama Queen" Ryoko Yonekura was embroiled in controversy last October when Japanese media outlet Weekly Bunshun reported that illegal drugs and related paraphernalia were found at her residence. Following the news, she promptly canceled all public appearances and ceased social media activity for nearly two months.
After declaring the "temporary conclusion" of the matter and resuming her entertainment activities in late December, Yonekura was again reported yesterday (January 20) to be under investigation for allegedly violating the Narcotics Control Act and other related regulations, having been referred to Japanese prosecutors in writing.
According to Japan's Fuji News Network (FNN), sources revealed that the well-known actress Ryoko Yonekura is indeed the individual referred to prosecutors in writing for suspected violations of the Narcotics Control Act. The Kanto-Shinetsu Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare's Narcotics Control Department, acting on intelligence suggesting her possible involvement with an Argentinian male friend in illegal drug activities, conducted searches at their respective residences around last summer. Items suspected to be drugs were seized during the operation and subsequently confirmed through analysis to be illegal substances.
It is understood that the Argentinian man has since left the country. The Narcotics Control Department continues its investigation into the actual possessor of the drugs, with "joint possession" being a key focus of their ongoing evidence collection.
Regarding the possession of illegal drugs, Ryoko Yonekura previously issued a statement via her agency's official website in December 2025, stating: "As reported by some media, investigative agencies did conduct a search at my residence. I will continue to cooperate with the investigation in the future, and I believe my cooperation thus far has temporarily concluded."
Following the news, Japanese online public opinion has been divided. One faction calls for rationality and respect for the presumption of innocence until judicial results are released, while another expresses concern over how this might impact her future career plans. Some fans also stand by Yonekura's years of professional image and accumulated work, believing she deserves time and space to await an official explanation.
Currently, after receiving the written referral, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office is expected to carefully evaluate whether to indict and what subsequent actions to take. However, for Ryoko Yonekura, who had just clarified the situation and believed she could return to her acting career, this drug scandal appears to require more time to prove her innocence.