To my fellow cannabis supporters worldwide: the battle is far from over.
A significant event in 2016 led to the widespread recognition of medical marijuana throughout Japan.
This occurred when actress Saya Takagi decided to run in the House of Councillors election in May.
Saya Takagi is regarded as one of Japan’s most prominent actresses.
Saya Takagi starred in the immensely popular detective drama “Aibou,” which has since been turned into a movie. In the series, she played a crucial role as the wife of the main character, cementing her place in one of Japan’s most beloved TV dramas.
Outside of her acting career, Saya Takagi is passionate about nature and works as a dolphin therapist in Hawaii, helping people heal. In 2002, she made history by setting a new national freediving record in Japan with a 45-meter dive. Later that year, at the Freediving World Championships in Hawaii, she surpassed her own record with a dive to 53 meters, winning a silver medal and securing second place in the world.
Saya Takagi’s philosophy is to confront challenges with unwavering determination.
In the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, which spread radiation across Japan, Saya Takagi relocated to a remote island in Okinawa, where she founded a retreat center.
Her goal was to use the power of nature to heal the people of Japan.
At the same time, she recognized the potential of cannabis, including medical marijuana, and made the decision to run for the House of Councillors to raise awareness of its benefits within Japanese society.
After many years with a major production company, she departed with much regret from both the company and her role in the drama.
Saya Takagi campaigned on the platform of legalizing medical marijuana, but unfortunately, she was not elected.
In October of the same year, she was arrested on suspicion of cannabis possession.
She was held in the Naha Detention Center for three months under a strict no-contact order. Following this, she was compelled to remain in Naha for a three-month trial, leading to a total of six months without her freedom.
She was arrested for possessing just a few grams of cannabis, even though it wasn’t hers, but rather belonged to a staff member she was living with.
While the standard detention period is 21 days, she was held for an unusually long three months.
It was evident that the authorities singled out Saya Takagi, having taken a stand against Japan’s power by running for office. While they never made this explicit, they established a surveillance post near her retreat center after the election and kept her under constant 24-hour watch.
On the day of her arrest, 30 police officers and narcotics agents, along with police dogs, suddenly conducted a search of her home. However, it wasn’t just the dogs they brought along. They had already leaked the arrest details to major TV stations and newspapers, ensuring that the moment of her arrest was broadcasted nationwide.
The arrest of Saya Takagi was covered extensively on TV and the internet, with much of the coverage being highly critical. Far from being indifferent to cannabis, Japanese society was quick to swallow the false information manipulated by the government.
Saya Takagi was turned from a top actress into one of Japan’s most notorious criminals, all for possessing just a few grams of cannabis.
Despite the backlash, Saya Takagi did not cease her support for cannabis. She kept speaking out about its benefits on social media, drawing a storm of harsh and critical replies in response.
Even while battling physical and mental health struggles and undergoing treatment, Saya Takagi continued to speak out. She was determined to stay true to her beliefs and share the truth about cannabis.
Meanwhile, TV talk shows often featured discussions about medical marijuana, with commentators and experts actively debating the issue. Among them, some doctors boldly stated, “Medical marijuana does not exist.”
Japan is a nation even more closed and authoritarian than the world perceives. Those who defend cannabis are relentlessly vilified by the government, the media, and the public who are manipulated by them, as if to push them into the depths of hell. It feels as though society finds a twisted sense of stability in sacrificing these individuals. This trend still persists today.
While Japan is not a multicultural country like the United States, it is home to a small number of foreign residents. Despite this, many individuals live their lives inspired by cultures such as cannabis appreciation and hip-hop, which have roots in Black communities. These people cherish Japanese culture, while simultaneously embracing and celebrating these other cultural influences.
The power structure in Japan wholly denies the way of life embraced by cannabis enthusiasts. This could be called hate and racial profiling in its most direct form.
Ironically, the Saya Takagi case, contrary to the authorities’ intentions, led to widespread awareness of medical marijuana and sparked public discussions, creating a significant impact on society.
A woman’s life was destroyed after she was relentlessly condemned by all of Japan for nothing more than speaking the truth. She was targeted simply for possessing a few grams of cannabis and advocating for the benefits of cannabis.
We must take a fresh look at her actions.
On December 12, 2024, Japan’s Cannabis Control Law was amended for the first time in 75 years. However, the revision is marred by vested interests.
We praise Saya Takagi’s actions, and it is essential that we share this with all those around the world who support cannabis.
To all cannabis allies worldwide, I encourage you to focus on Saya Takagi’s actions and stand together in solidarity with her.
Across the world, cannabis is being legalized in many places. Yet, the battle is far from over.
Rap has helped save my life. I would be deeply grateful if you could listen.
Yuji Masataka
The Beginning of the Story – Kumamoto, on the Edge of Town
Orange fireflies danced between my fingers.
We were all different, with different ages and backgrounds, but we were friends.
Outcasts and those with a past, but we all loved being here.
It was a dream, but dreams don’t last.
Then came a call from the Minami Police Station:
“Did you know Kodama was using cannabis?”
I brought old books from Book Off as a gift.
Years passed, and in 2015, I had grown up.
In Seattle, the streets were filled with smoke.
On the other side of the ocean, someone who had been arrested had died.
I started searching for my purpose.
I made calls, wrote articles, and started YouTube.
Some of my patients were far away, on the other side of the world.
I’ll continue to do what I can for those who are no longer here,
And place a green bouquet on their graves.
Let’s transform our sorrow into strength, Legalize It!
Let’s turn our tears of frustration into power, Legalize It!
We will fight for the right to survive,
We will fight for the right to be reborn.
One day, we’ll light a fire in a place of hope.
The Story Begins – Tokyo, the City of Flowers
From a model to an actress, during the height of the bubble economy,
She got everything she wanted and did all she dreamed of.
Men adored her, and women envied her,
But for some reason, it all felt hollow. Searching for herself, she headed to the sea.
Embraced by the deep ocean, she looked at the world with new eyes.
She refused to follow what she couldn’t connect with.
Her anger sparked a scandal, and she was ousted from the entertainment industry.
After the 311 disaster, she moved to this island,
Ran for office to spread awareness of medical cannabis, but lost.
She became a target, arrested, and dominated the media.
She absorbed a lifetime of insults, paying off her karma.
But even so, she never silenced herself, and this year, she turned 60.
Across the sea, things began to shift, and the winds changed.
Seven years after being told “medical cannabis doesn’t exist,”
History will reveal what was truly right.
–
Repeat
Hey, picture this:
On a bright Sunday morning, under a clear sky,
You’re sitting on a park bench,
Rolling a joint without worrying about anyone watching.
The girl sitting next to you smiles and says,
“That smells amazing.”
There was a time we could have been arrested for this,
But now we laugh, nostalgic about those days gone by.
For now, let it be a dream—even if people laugh at us.
Those who know the truth will always be there.
No matter how many of our friends are shackled,
The flag we raised will never be broken.
Some can’t laugh just yet, I know,
In this messed-up world where honesty is mocked.
But still, imagine—there’s always hope,
The future is in our hands.
Repeat
Legalize it!
I weave words skillfully, riding the sound,
Telling a dramatic story of life and death,
The fleeting life of a shooting star that won’t make it into history,
But our meeting is far from meaningless.
With skillful words, I ride on the rhythm,
Telling a dramatic story of life and death,
The fleeting life of a shooting star, never making it into history,
But our meeting was never meaningless.
It was spring 2019, full of bright light,
Wearing a knit cap to hide the traces of cancer treatment,
Even in such dire circumstances, your smile remained gentle,
And I thought, once we’ve overcome everything, I’ll surely be able to say thank you.
“You have cancer in your lungs, and it has spread to your brain.”
At 34, what would you do if it were you?
The miracle drug Opdivo felt more like a placebo,
Unable to breathe, struggling, oxygen tubes hanging from your nose,
“I want to try medical cannabis in the U.S.”
But with your health, international flights seemed impossible.
“If the next treatment works, I’ll go with you.”
That was our final conversation, a promise left unfulfilled.
There are too many sorrows to count with both hands, but still, we can soar.
The wishes placed in our hands are too much to bear, so can you sing along?
It was just before your 13th birthday,
A sudden fever, followed by relentless chills and shivers.
At the hospital, blood tests revealed abnormal results, and I was quickly moved to a separate room.
The diagnosis was T-cell leukemia.
It was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, with no visitation allowed,
Facing the side effects of chemotherapy alone.
“It hurts so much, I just want to go home. Help me, Dad.”
Behind the glass of the sterile room, I clenched my lips.
The medication ran out, and with the pain still present, palliative care was suggested.
The last hope placed in me was medical cannabis oil.
Within hours of taking it, the pain disappeared—could it be true?
I wanted to pinch myself, but it was real.
Tumor cells temporarily shrank,
And with that sliver of hope, you crossed the sea.
But your young body had accumulated too much damage,
There wasn’t enough time, and the wish entrusted to you went unfulfilled.
There are too many sorrows to count with both hands, but still, we can soar.
The wishes placed in our hands are too much to bear, so can you sing along?
Stories disappear in just 24 hours,
Any buzz or scandal lasts for 7 days.
The timeline fills with tributes to celebrities who’ve taken their lives,
And within a month, everyone forgets and moves on.
But I won’t forget, you were here with us,
I’ll carry your words and share them instead.
It’s a lousy rap, but I’ll turn it into a song and leave it behind,
I’ll even link your accounts in the description.
And yes, your father helped too,
Carrying on your wish to spread awareness of medical cannabis.
I took your photo all the way to the Ministry of Health,
And said, “Please give these kids a choice.”
The ministers and bureaucrats all listened.
Step by step, things are getting better.
I won’t let your pain and suffering go to waste,
So now rest peacefully, and become a star.
There are too many sorrows to count with both hands, but still, we can soar.
The wishes placed in our hands are too much to bear, so can you sing along?