The most frightening experience of Yoko Tsukamoto’s nursing career began when a psychiatric patient grabbed her by the neck and attempted to strangle her. It ended only when her colleagues managed to pull the man away.
But now, the arrest of actress Ryoko Hirosue has brought long-simmering frustrations to the surface. Hirosue, best known internationally for her roles in Wasabi, produced by Luc Besson, and the Oscar-winning Departures, was arrested on April 8 for allegedly kicking and scratching a nurse at a hospital in Shizuoka prefecture. The incident occurred while Hirosue was being treated after a minor traffic accident.
The 44-year-old actress’s arrest, though not among the most violent cases, has opened the floodgates for healthcare workers to share their anger and experiences.
