On the 4th, the Metropolitan Police Department arrested two university judo team members—a sophomore (20) and a freshman (19)—on suspicion of violating the Cannabis Control Act (joint possession, etc.) for possessing marijuana. Both suspects have reportedly admitted to the allegations, according to investigative sources.
Investigative sources revealed that the two jointly possessed dried marijuana in their university dormitory in mid-June. Additionally, the sophomore is suspected of using narcotics in or around Tokyo from early March to mid-June.
On June 13, the university received a tip-off that “judo team members are using marijuana,” prompting the institution to consult the Metropolitan Police Department the following day. The police then searched the dormitory and seized small amounts of plant fragments and smoking paraphernalia. The plant material was later confirmed to be cannabis through forensic analysis.
During voluntary questioning by the police, six male judo team members—including the two arrested—admitted to having used marijuana in the past.
Following the discovery of the issue, the university suspended the judo team’s activities the next day and withdrew from the “All Japan Student Judo Championship,” a late-June tournament to determine the top university team in Japan. The university’s judo team is highly competitive, having produced medalists in world championships and the Olympics.
In response to the arrests, the university issued a statement: “We deeply regret this incident and sincerely apologize for the significant inconvenience caused. We take this matter seriously and will address it with strict measures.”
