Musician Pierre Taki given suspended term for drug use

June 18, 2019

Tokyo--Tokyo District Court sentenced Japanese musician and actor Pierre Taki on Tuesday to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years, for using cocaine in violation of the narcotics control law.

The prosecution had sought an unsuspended prison term of 18 months.

Taki, 52, whose real name is Masanori Taki, apologized again in a statement released after the ruling.

Taki, who started using illegal drugs in his 20s, purchased cocaine from a woman over the last five to six years, Judge Hironobu Ono said in the ruling.

He "took the easy way out and resorted to illegal drugs to relieve stress," Ono said.

"He used cocaine alone while listening to music. His cocaine use didn't amount to an addiction but was still habitual," the judge said.

But his prison term was suspended as Taki "pledged to take treatment programs and abstain from illegal drugs," Ono said.

In the first hearing of the trial, on June 5, Taki, who began his career as a musician, said he started using cocaine as his private life became busier due to a variety of new job offers including as an actor.

According to the ruling, Taki used a small amount of cocaine in his home in Tokyo around March 12.

Taki is a founding member of techno-pop duo Denki Groove, formed in 1989, and he appeared in Japan Broadcasting Corp.'s (NHK) major drama series "Idaten."

Following the arrest in March, his contract with a management agency was canceled.

The first trial of Maki Tasaka, the 48-year-old woman who gave cocaine to Taki and is also charged with a narcotics control law violation, is expected to be held on June 25. Jiji Press