Ennosuke Ichikawa, Japanese kabuki star, arrested for assisting mother's suicide: Report

Tokyo [Japan], June 27 : Famed Japan's Kabuki actor Ennosuke Ichikawa's has been arrested on suspicion of assisting his mother's suicide after his parents were discovered unconscious at his home last month, as per a report in Al Jazeera which cited Japanese public broadcaster NHK.

The report quoted police sources and said TV footage showed a car apparently transporting the 47-year-old Ichikawa from a hospital to a police station.

Ichikawa is a classical theatre star who has appeared in London, Amsterdam, and Paris.

Rescue workers discovered Ichikawa's 76-year-old father, also a kabuki actor, and his 75-year-old mother lying unconscious at his Tokyo home in May.

Both were later pronounced dead due to a suspected drug overdose.

Ichikawa was discovered in a house cupboard and taken to the hospital, where police questioned him.

The actor told officers that his family had "discussed dying and being reborn" and that his parents had taken sleeping pills, as Al Jazeera reported, citing NHK.

An apparent suicide note written by Ichikawa, who had previously been prescribed sleeping pills, was also discovered inside his home.

Police believe he attempted suicide with his parents and moved to arrest him because they were concerned he would tamper with evidence or flee.

According to reports, police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding Ichikawa's father's death.

Ichikawa, whose real name is Takahiko Kinoshi, made his kabuki debut in 1980 and became one of Japan's most famous performers.

According to his website, he was once nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for dance performance.