The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.
© KYODOActress Sawajiri admits taking illegal drugs for over 10 years
TOKYO©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.
© KYODO
54 Comments
Login to comment
Daxy
The way the Japanese government and police handle drugs is bizarre. Raiding a woman's house and charging her over 0.09 worth of substance? Bizzare.
mike1492
Only ten years?
rgcivilian1
What she did or does in her private time is her affair and has no place in the media regardless of her career. Same applies for others.
Akita Marky Mark
Maybe they should conduct a drug test on every Japanese citizen when they come back from overseas trips??? The Japaneses Party hard in the states, smoke mega weed in Washington, not to mention all the cocaine they do before they come back to japan. Isn't there some law stating even if your in a foreign country and drugs are legal there, as a Japanese citizen its still illegal???
DRUG TEST EVERY JAPANESE COMING BACK INTO COUNTRY, then they would really have something to report.
macv
and that she had previously used marijuana, LSD and cocaine, as well as MDMA - gotta keep in mind j authorities never publicize the purity of confiscated drugs. I am quite sure it is very low.
rcch
wow, an actress / a celebrity ( part of the entertainment industry ) using drugs for more than ten years... what an aberration ! ! i need psychological help asap .
JeffLee
Don't believe anyone who won't give their name, as their name may not be the only thing they're hiding.
Why doesn't the intrepid Japanese reporter get comments from her lawyer? If we only hear one side the story, the greater the chance we aren't hearing the truth.
Yubaru
What planet are you from? It is VERY much the norm in cases like these. The cops detain you, have three days to question you, after that time, they can make a request to a judge for an extension, typically given, which is for 10 days, then another 10 day extension, all before officially charging you with a crime.
After the 23 day period they either have to officially charge you or let you go!
They have her on possession already, so they could charge her right now, but they haven't.
It's not "allowed", the proper wording should be that the judge "granted the prosecutors request" to extend her detention!
Saying "allowed" makes it seem like they are doing them a favor!
Yubaru
There really is no such thing, as "drugs" dont exist in Japan and they aren't a problem! Focusing on them as being such would cause many others to seek them out to see what they are about!
Just like "telling" 18 and 19 yr old's they "can't drink because they are underage", so many go out and do it anyway!
Toasted Heretic
Sure, if you want an authoritarian police surveillance state that monitors everything you do.
1738Kwaaa!!
Definitely she was set up, a victim of stalking from the police, and a forced confession/ admittance in exchange of a lesser punishment. I definitely feel sorry for her, and her unfortunate circumstances.
Although i am not in support of drug usage, but there is more which is unsaid.!sir_bentley28
So she told them and gave them all this information and hinted that she used drugs for over 10 years, but they still don't believe her? They need to decide on weather she used the drug? That's like Snoop Dogg saying ;
Snoop : I've been smoking for the past 30 years
Police : We will decide weather you smoked or not!
Come on Japan!
nandakandamanda
Foolish is probably the right word. She sounds as if she does not have a strong fear of the letter of Japanese law, and she underestimated the numbers of snitchers around. Just a question of time before someone dobs you in, but she had a good run first, I guess. Maybe she will wake up and smell the coffee, maybe not.
A pity that she will probably lose one of the lead roles in next year’s Taiga Drama, as the wife of Oda Nobunaga.
canigetawhatwhat
FREE ERIKA!
stormcrow
She was using, not selling, so the fair and compassionate thing to do would be to let her check in to a drug treatment center.
Why punish her for harming herself?
Boy Next Door
This is just the tip of the ice berg. Have all celebrities undergo random drug testing.
Jim Harper
Given the enormous number of entertainers who take recreational drugs while holding down a successful career, it's hardly a shock. And 'hooked' is the wrong word. She's admitted to recreational drug use. That is not the same as being addicted. Sawajiri has cleared managed to handle all the requirements of her professional career while occasionally taking drugs, so I don't see what 'signs' there would be. Contrary to popular opinion. It is possible to use drugs while keeping your life entirely stable. I'm not advocating it, but it's misleading and inaccurate to paint all recreational drug users as dysfunctional wrecks.
I think the appropriate course is for Sawajiri to be put through rehab, monitored via urine or blood tests for a period (for a year perhaps), and then allowed to continue her career. She isn't the first celebrity to use drugs and she won't be the last. Ostracizing these individuals clearly has no impact on the problem (of course, it's better for rock musicians such as Hisashi Imai from Buck-Tick and L'arc-en-ciel's original drummer Sakura, who have both continued successful careers after drug busts).
theFu
How incompetent are the police that she got away with all these crimes for 10 whole years!???
And when they do finally "catch" her, it is with 1 pill from a week ago?
She's a recreational user. That level of use shouldn't be a crime.
kohakuebisu
The punishment of every drug user in Japan is excessive and is the key problem here.
The additional problem for Sawajiri is that drug use can be a career ender for mainstream entertainers. I don't know who decided it and continues to decide it, but drugs are off limits to them. While it is true that compared to drugs in sports, which mean an unfair advantage, and drugs for train drivers, which put others in danger, Sawajiri will barely affect other people, the Japanese entertainment industry is what it is and rewards those who play by the rules, which can also include working for a yakuza-like agency and subjecting yourself to some of the worst sempai-kohai BS in Japan.
DaDude
Her attitude thing has always been attributed to her drug use. Before that, she was always looked at as sweet and innocent. That movie Helter Skelter she was in almost seems like a movie about her life though I didn't care for it.
spinningplates
I'm not surprised she was using or got busted.
I'm surprised she is singing like a bird and confessing all.
I guess it's a cry for help, or a plea for leniency?
BeerDeliveryGuy
This showcases the failings of Japan’s drug awareness programs.
The drug PSAs always feature a disheveled, malnourished salaryman with bloodshot crazy eyes and violent gestures.
When kids see celebs who are successful and attractive, Taki Pierre, Kiyohara, Noriko Sakai, Manabu Oshio, Saya Takagi, and now, Sawajiri, they’ll realize all those PSAs were just scare tactic hyperbole.
Toasted Heretic
Not everyone who enjoys a night out, letting off steam, indulges in drug use. And not all those who do indulge are "bad".
Joe Blow
Shocking that bad girls and bad boys, who go to nightclubs, take club drugs like ecstasy, cocaine, and ketamine.
Genuinely shocked.
itsonlyrocknroll
Give Japanese actress Erika Sawajiri, the opportunity to rehabilitate and change her lifestyle. To publicity throw Erika Sawajiri under a tram, serves little purpose other than an act of intransigent draconian cruelty. I suppose making an example. There are alternatives, celebrity or otherwise without losing the message
Something I once read about, casting the first stone
itsonlyrocknroll
I believe Actress Sawajiri is foolish to dabble in recreational drugs.
Japan police authorises, society have a zero tolerance.
Its is so easy to judge, since sometimes I drink like a fish.
I have been warned, this habit be to hazardous to my long term health.
My physician, once stated, to be more life changing than drug addiction.
What I do find intolerable is parts of Sawajiri alleged statements being anonymously briefed to the media.
Madden
Whatever, a person with no talents that only became famous from modeling because she was attractive, got everything she wanted for free but I guess it wasn't enough for her. Of course she couldn't just leave the industry if she disliked it because that's all she has going for her, only other option for someone with only looks and nothing else is night work!
Pukey2
No sympathy for her. Nobody is pointing a gun at her and forcing her to stay in showbusiness if it's that stressful.
John Beara
Does mommy and daddy have to go on public tv to apologize? Can't believe i had to google her name to see who we are talking about... (she's kinda cute)
Cricky
On TV they describe her use of "Gatway" drugs? Is that like drinking beer then upgrading to Wiskey that leeds to Tequila.
And where are the victims of her hobby?
gogogo
What a waste of time, she will bow, "retire" for 6 months, and be back to normal.
Kobe White Bar Owner
With the big hauls of coke and meths these days it clear to say lots more’s getting through and someone’s taking it. Pretty pathetic how they milk these stories in the news and destroy careers what with the states of booze addiction here, but that’s a socially acceptable drug whoops I forgot. Yes I know the irony as I run a bar :0) doesn’t mean I condone alcoholism.
Do the hustle
That has more to do with the lifestyle of a Japanese entertainer than the drugs.
GrungeHamster
Good gosh someone get this horrible demon off the streets, they were out there doing this for that long?!
Or...
Wow this person had absolutely no affect on the daily comings and goings of ordinary people. What celebrities put into their bodies is of little concern to anyone of us here or there.
I'm more concerned about Abe and what he is doing because that affects all of us.
Strangerland
Locking her up for a first-time drug offense WOULD be a double standard, considering that the overwhelming majority of first-time drug offenses get suspended sentences. Why should a celebrity be treated differently?
papigiulio
Been using for over 10 years but only discovered now? She is good at hiding it. What a waste of talent, she was a great actress, just had a huge attitude problem.
Cricky
10 years of crime injuring people, theft, property damage, fraud, violence, bad 30sec video clips, ......Ha all but one actually happened.
and a pretty successful career?
might be that what one does in their own home might not be that bad.
Bugle Boy of Company B
Have you seen the videos of her on the news? She looked pretty messed up and some of them.
John Beara
Some tv shows are so dumb that i am sure they eat magic mushrooms
John Beara
OMG... what a shocking news
Ganbare Japan!
Unbelievable. How could Erika-chan be hooked on dangerous drugs for 10 years while continuing a successful show business career? Why didnt anyone see the signs she was on drugs?
Just say NO to drugs! Dont destroy your life!
Bintaro
Considering how hard show business is in Japan, I'm pretty sure half the celebrities on TV are taking drugs.
oldman_13
lock her up, no double standards for 'celebrities'
miss_oikawa
What?? A young person in the entertainment industry has been using drugs???!! Say it ain't so. Get Keith on the line! (No, not that line) He would be appalled, appalled I tell you!
captain-caveman
wow, imagine picking her up at a night club for a night night stand.
Do the hustle
So, she’s been taking illegal drugs while working as a professional entertainer and has built a solid career while under the influence of these drugs. It shatters the Japanese belief that drugs turn one into a non-functional burden on society, doesn’t it?
Akie
"Every time a famous person was arrested over drugs, I told myself to be careful because I might be in danger too."
She is definitely famous now.
Martin Blank
@yubaru
"allowed her to be detained until Nov 26"
Becasue that is not the norm, they requested an extension. It was ALLOWED by the courts. 100% nothing wrong with that sentence.
Yubaru
Oh how kind of them! Because she is a celebrity they "allowed" her to be detained.
The wording in some of these high profile cases leaves something to be desired!