THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
February 14, 2020 at 17:26 JST
Noriyuki Makihara speaks during an interview in Osaka on Feb. 6. (The Asahi Shimbun)
Police on Feb. 13 arrested pop singer-songwriter Noriyuki Makihara on suspicion of possessing stimulant drugs and psychoactive substances, marking his second arrest on similar charges following one about 20 years ago.
The latest arrest came in connection to drugs that the Metropolitan Police Department found at his home two years ago.
Police sources did not disclose whether Makihara admitted to the charges, which are in violation of the Narcotics Drug Control Law and the law on pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
Makihara, 50, allegedly possessed 0.083 gram of a stimulant drug at a condominium in Tokyo's Minato Ward where he was living on April 11, 2018.
He is also suspected of having possessed about 64.2 milliliters of the mood-enhancing inhalant Rush (isobutyl nitrite) at the same condominium on March 30 that year.
Police confirmed the presence of the drugs at the time. After a subsequent investigation, Makihara was served an arrest warrant at his current residence in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward on the evening of Feb. 13.
In August 1999, Makihara was also arrested on charges of possessing stimulant drugs at his home. He was convicted in December that year at Tokyo District Court.
In 1991, a year after his debut, Makihara’s song “Donna Tokimo” (Always), which was also a theme song for a movie, sold more than 1 million copies. He made his first appearance on Japan Broadcasting Corp.’s year-end “Kohaku Utagassen” (Red and white song contest) show the same year.
He created hit songs that he sang in succession, including “Fuyu ga Hajimaruyo” (Winter is coming) and “Mo Koi Nante Shinai” (I’ll never love again), which combined catchy tunes with dramatic lyrics.
Makihara made a successful comeback after his arrest in 1999. In 2003, “Sekai ni Hitotsudake no Hana” (The one and only flower in the world), which he wrote for all-male idol group SMAP, became a huge hit in Japan.
Makihara had various events, including a concert tour, scheduled this year as it marks the 30th anniversary of his debut.
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