Ryoko Hirosue is taking a break from showbiz, after she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and hyperthyroidism.
The news was revealed by her agency on 3 May, saying that the 45-year-old actress was hospitalised at a medical institution in Tokyo following her release from the police station in mid-April on suspicion of assaulting a nurse.
“We deeply regret that we dismissed her illness and suffering with words like ‘poor health.’ For the time being, Ryoko will take a break from all showbiz activities and focus on recovering mentally and physically,” they stated.
The company also stressed that it does not intend to use the illness as an excuse to evade responsibility, and will honestly cooperate with relevant investigations in the future. However, the hiatus decision is made so that not only can she receive treatment, but that a similar incident will not happen again.
Ryoko was arrested in early April after she was accused of harassing a nurse in Shimada, Shizuoka Prefecture. Prior to that, she had been sent to the hospital where the nurse was employed after she rear-ended a truck on the Shin-Tomei Expressway.
No alcohol or illegal drugs were found in her system.