Japan Volleyball Player Busted Over Marijuana Possession

May 29, 2026 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Volleyball player Shunichiro Sato, a member of Japan’s men’s national team, was arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department on suspicion of possessing marijuana after allegedly leaving a bag containing the drug at a pachinko parlor in Tokyo.

Sato, 26, is suspected of possessing dried marijuana at a pachinko parlor in Itabashi Ward on the evening of May 27th.

Police said the case came to light after the pachinko parlor contacted authorities regarding a forgotten bag. During a subsequent investigation, officers discovered suspected marijuana linked to Sato, and he was arrested on the morning of May 28th after forensic testing confirmed the substance.

Authorities have not disclosed whether Sato has admitted to the allegations.

Japan’s men’s national volleyball team had been holding a training camp in Tokyo’s Kita Ward since May 11th.

Standing 2.05 meters tall, Sato played as a middle blocker and represented Japan at the 2025 World Championship.

The Japan Volleyball Association announced on its website on the afternoon of May 28th that it had revoked Sato’s registration with the national team, adding: "We deeply apologize for betraying the trust of fans."

Source: FNN

Sudden Downpours And Thunderstorms Lash Kanto, More Storms Expected Saturday

Sudden thunderstorms swept across the Kanto region on June 12th, bringing violent weather, torrential rain, strong winds, and hail, with forecasters warning that similar conditions could develop from Kanto to Hokkaido on Saturday.

Japan Moves To Tackle Potty Parity

The Japanese government on June 12th released new guidelines calling for women’s toilets to have at least as many fixtures as men’s toilets in public facilities, seeking to address the persistent problem of long queues at women’s restrooms in places such as train stations and event venues.

Captain Endo Withdraws From Japan Squad

Japan captain Wataru Endo has withdrawn from the national team's World Cup squad due to injury and announced his retirement from international soccer, dealing a major blow ahead of Japan's Group F opener against the Netherlands on June 14th (June 15th Japan time), as the team continued preparations near Nashville, Tennessee, on June 11th.

Veteran Photographer Documents Changing Bear Behavior

As bear sightings continue at an unusually high pace across Akita Prefecture, a veteran wildlife photographer who has spent nearly 30 years observing and photographing Asian black bears says the animals are appearing more frequently, moving closer to human settlements, and increasingly adapting their behavior to survive.

Bear Swims Ashore and Roams Popular Kyoto Prefecture Tourist Area

A male Asiatic black bear that appeared at Amanohashidate, one of Japan's Three Scenic Views, in Kyoto Prefecture was captured after prompting the temporary closure of the popular tourist destination and surrounding area, authorities said.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Sports NEWS

Mud Covered Kids Play Dodgeball in Rice Paddy

Elementary school students in Yokote, Akita Prefecture, played a spirited game of dodgeball in a rice field on June 12th as part of an annual event that also serves to prepare the paddy for planting.

Players to Watch When Japan Faces the Netherlands

Japan's World Cup campaign begins on June 14 when the Samurai Blue face the Netherlands at Dallas Stadium in Texas, a clash that will showcase some of the game's most talented players and pit two ambitious teams against one another in a crucial Group F opener. While Japan arrives without injured winger Kaoru Mitoma, one of its most recognizable stars, the squad still boasts a wealth of talent drawn from Europe's top leagues.

Parrot Predicts Japan to Win All Group Matches at World Cup

A fortune-telling parrot at Nasu Animal Kingdom in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture, predicted on June 11 that Japan's national soccer team will win all three of its group-stage matches at the FIFA World Cup.

Okinawa Fans Get First Taste of Japan's Best Women's Softball

Japan's top-tier women's softball competition, the JD League, was held in Okinawa for the first time, giving local fans a chance to watch national team players and athletes from the prefecture compete at the highest domestic level.

Netherlands vs Japan: Samurai Blue take on one of Europe's strongest national teams

In this 1xBet review, we’ll take a look at the key aspects of the main match of Matchday 1 in Group F of the World Football Forum 2026.

Japan National Team Holds First Training Session in Nashville

Japan's national soccer team arrived in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 8th from Monterrey, Mexico, where it had been conducting a pre-World Cup training camp, and held its first practice session at its base camp for the FIFA World Cup in North America.

Japan Steps Up World Cup Preparations in Mexico

Japan's national football team continued preparations for the FIFA World Cup in North America on June 6th, holding a partially closed training session near Monterrey, Mexico, on the fourth day of its pre-tournament camp.

Samurai Blue Eye Historic Breakthrough in 2026 World Cup

Expectations for Japan are unusually high heading into the 2026 World Cup, with the team now aiming not merely to reach the knockout stage but to finally break through the Round of 16 and advance to the quarterfinals for the first time.

< 2 3 4 5 >