Japanese actress Ryoko Hirosue Photo: VCG

Japanese actress Ryoko Hirosue has been arrested on Tuesday after allegedly assaulting a nurse at a hospital in Shizuoka Prefecture, sparking attention in Japan and abroad. The incident occurred after the 43-year-old star was involved in a car accident, according to a release from Hirosue's agency R.H Co., Ltd.

Ryoko Hirosue was involved in a traffic accident while driving her own car in Shizuoka Prefecture. After being transported to the hospital, she temporarily entered a state of panic, resulting in injuries to a medical staff member. We sincerely and deeply apologize for the tremendous trouble and concern caused to the victim, as well as to all parties involved, the agency said in the statement in Japanese released on its website.

As the matter is currently under investigation, we will refrain from disclosing further details at this time. However, Hirosue has decided to suspend all entertainment activities for the foreseeable future, the statement added.

According to The Japan News, Shizuoka prefectural police announced that a woman was arrested on suspicion of inflicting injury on a nurse at a hospital in Shimada in the prefecture. The woman identified herself as well-known actor Ryoko Hirosue, 44, and the police are trying to determine her real identity.

According to the police announcement, the woman, whose address is unknown, was arrested on the scene after she kicked the 37-year-old nurse and scratched her arm at the hospital at around 12:20 am on Tuesday. The nurse is believed to have sustained minor injuries.

The arrested woman had been transported to the hospital around 6:50 pm on Monday after the car she was driving rear-ended a large trailer on the Shin-Tomei Expressway in Kakegawa City in the prefecture. A man, believed to be her manager, was also in the car.

The news quickly went viral on Chinese social media, with the hashtag #HirosueUnderArrest# trending on Sina Weibo on Tuesday. By press time, the topic had garnered over 15 million views.

Hirosue, a former teen idol and one of Japan's most recognizable actresses, rose to fame in the 1990s. Hirosue has appeared in a wide range of hit television dramas and films, earning the admiration of audiences across Japan. Her notable works include popular dramas such as Beach Boys, as well as acclaimed films like Departures and Wasabi, according to China News

Global Times