One-Year prison sentence sought for former Japan International Shunichiro Sato in Cannabis case

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Former Japan international Shunichiro Sato is facing a possible one-year prison sentence after prosecutors in Tokyo formally requested the penalty in his cannabis possession case.

The 26-year-old middle blocker appeared before the Tokyo District Court, where he admitted to the charges against him. The court is expected to deliver its verdict next Friday.

According to the indictment, he was found in possession of 0.831 grams of dried cannabis at a lounge in Tokyo on May 27. During the hearing, the former national team player acknowledged his actions, telling the court that he had given in to his own weakness. His defense lawyers, however, asked the court to hand down a suspended sentence instead of immediate imprisonment.
The incident occurred while he was attending a training camp with the Japanese national team. During a break from camp, he visited a lounge with several teammates and reportedly left behind a bag in which the cannabis was later discovered. He was arrested by police the following day.

The player spent the 2025–26 SV.League season with Wolfdogs Nagoya. Following his arrest, he was immediately removed from Japan’s national team roster, while his club terminated his contract.
Although the court has yet to issue its final ruling, the case has already attracted significant attention in Japan and dealt a blow to the image of the country’s volleyball community. The verdict is scheduled to be announced next Friday.

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