Ryosuke Takiguchi pleads guilty in ‘zombie tobacco’ drug transfer case

At the Hiroshima District Court, Ryosuke Takiguchi, a 38-year-old business executive, pleaded guilty during his first trial for violating the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act. Takiguchi was charged with transferring the designated drug etomidate, colloquially known as ‘zombie tobacco,’ to former Hiroshima Toyo Carp player Ryutaro Hazuki.

Prosecutors stated that Takiguchi obtained cartridges from a foreign national via social media and sent them to the Carp’s Ono Dormitory last November, disguised as a ‘baseball card box.’ While Takiguchi apologized for ‘taking away the baseball career’ of Hazuki, he denied allegations that he provided the substance to anyone else. This contradicts previous statements by Hazuki, who claimed via live stream that six people had purchased from the same individual.

The court handed down a sentence of two years of imprisonment, suspended for four years. The case follows the arrest and subsequent contract termination of Hazuki earlier this year. Additionally, other players, including Masaya Yano and Seita Maekawa, have faced police searches and roster adjustments amid the ongoing investigation. Hiroshima Carp acting owner Hiroshi Matsuda noted that the police investigation is not yet fully concluded.