crime

Actress Sawajiri indicted on drug possession charges

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Naoki Yokokawa, a 38-year-old fashion designer and former boyfriend of Sawajiri, was also arrested last week for allegedly jointly possessing with Sawajiri the MDMA found at the actress' house.

The lad must have admitted it was his. If not, how in could the police determine he “jointly possessed” something that was not in his custody or under his control?

12 ( +12 / -0 )

She said she is "firmly determined" to overcome drug addiction and pull herself up again.

Of course she is saying what she needs to say. But considering she had no drugs in her system, despite having drugs in her house, tells me she doesn't have an addiction.

Anyone who knows how addicts work, knows there would not be unused drugs in the house if she really was an addict.

14 ( +18 / -4 )

Anyone who knows how addicts work, knows there would not be unused drugs in the house if she really was an addict.

To be honest, I'm not sure that you understand how addicts work either. A tobacco addict will have unsmoked cigarettes on her possession.

And LSD is not addictive in the way that opiates, cigarettes and even alcohol are.

5 ( +13 / -8 )

I can’t believe this is still news

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Govt. logic: We don't want you to ruin your life by using drugs which we deem bad for you, so we will arrest you and ruin your life to teach you a lesson.

13 ( +19 / -6 )

Govt. logic: We don't want you to ruin your life by using drugs which we deem bad for you, so we will arrest you and ruin your life to teach you a lesson.

Or just maybe it’s about trying to protect society overall?

-9 ( +7 / -16 )

since Yokokawa will be jointly charged the amount of illegal drugs found should be halved for each :-)

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

We don't want you to ruin your life by using drugs which we deem bad for you, so we will arrest you and ruin your life to teach you a lesson.

As if she had no part in ruining her own life.

Lol

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

To be honest, I'm not sure that you understand how addicts work either.

I really wish that were true. It would have been a different life...

A tobacco addict will have unsmoked cigarettes on her possession.

You realize her drug test turned up clean, right? She had no drugs in her system.

An addict with no drugs in their system, and drugs in their house? That has never existed ever, in all of history.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

And LSD is not addictive in the way that opiates, cigarettes and even alcohol are.

I agree. Which is why the idea that she's an addict is silly.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Or just maybe it’s about trying to protect society overall?

Well, that's definitely what it's about.

Unfortunately however, it's simply prolonging the failed war on drugs. Treating a health problem with the criminal justice system has never worked anywhere.

I agree they want to protect society, but the manner in which they are doing it is fundamentally flawed, and even in 40 years has not worked.

It's time to drop the idea that the war on drugs is either effective, or even a good idea. The war on drugs has created an environment that has enabled more crime, violence, and drugs, than a proper risk-management approach would. The effect of the war on drugs has been worse on society than the actual drugs are.

If your solution is worse than the problem, then which exactly is the problem?

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Amazing how this is still a national news.

The local media and the justice system reminds me the puritan American one back in the early ‘50es.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Ok, let's watch it on the news for the next month then

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I understand cocaine addict more than I'd care to admit. The other substances are not physically addictive, but anything can become a habit, and may become a psychological addiction.

I'm with Strangerland here. Addicts will have the drugs in their system if there is any way they can make it happen. The fact that she was out clubbing and didn't have any of those substances in her blood means to me that she is a social user, not an addict. That isn't hard for non-addictive drugs or if you don't become addicted to opiates.

I like to bowl while in the "beer zone." In my mind, I believe 1.5 beers is the correct amount to enhance my bowling scores. It is a psychological belief. I thought cocaine allowed me to dance better. Fortunately, there weren't video cameras everywhere back then, just laughing friends and bystanders. Even today, the best part of major dental work is hydrocondone. I always want to go dancing.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

The fact that she was out clubbing and didn't have any of those substances in her blood means to me that she is a social user, not an addict.

Exactly.

For the war on drugs proponents, consider this - it would appear that the worst effect drugs have had on her overall appears to be that she was arrested.

The thing that is harming her most, is the social construct around the drugs, not the drugs themselves.

When your "solution" is more damaging than the problem, then which exactly is the problem?

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Yada yada yada suspended sentence

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Just say "NO" to illegal drugs, and you wont find yourself in a world of trouble like Erika-chan. Simple as that.

-4 ( +8 / -12 )

Unfortunately however, it's simply prolonging the failed war on drugs. Treating a health problem with the criminal justice system has never worked anywhere.

You’re not wrong, I just don’t think it’s helpful to criticize a government for trying to do something in the way it was criticized. There are very few countries where any effective solutions have been implemented but over time we are seeing more tackle the problem in different and hopefully more effective ways. It just appeared to be a very anti government comment for the sake of it.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Yada yada yada suspended sentence

Of course - do you think she should be treated differently than other people just because she's a celebrity?

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

I just don’t think it’s helpful to criticize a government for trying to do something in the way it was criticized. There are very few countries where any effective solutions have been implemented but over time we are seeing more tackle the problem in different and hopefully more effective ways.

Not saying anything just lets people continue to think that the war on drugs has been anything less than a complete and utter failure, and instead of making society better, has in fact harmed it.

The status quo is that people think the war on drugs makes sense and can work. When you're fighting the status quo, sometimes it requires directly speaking to the problem.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Not saying anything just lets people continue to think that the war on drugs has been anything less than a complete and utter failure, and instead of making society better, has in fact harmed it.

Saying something constructive is much, much better. If you just say “you’re hopeless” to an addict do they go looking for help or straight back to what they were doing? Governments are ultimately only human as well and if they’re told the same then the same thing happens. True solutions require a lot more. They are failing but they need help.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Well I disagree to some degree with the start of your post, but most definitely agree with the end.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I think that an important distinction needs to be made here.

The war on drugs in the US and some other Western nations has failed, for whatever reason. But the war to keep them out in Japan, Singapore, etc has largely succeeded so far. So, whatever they are doing should be continued.

I believe the success in the East has a lot to do with two factors:

1: Tough penalties and social stigma towards drugs and users

2: Disinterest in drugs

1 ( +4 / -3 )

just want to point out that, besides nicotine and alcohol, crystal meth is the biggest addiction problem in Japan, and it was first synthesized by a Japanese chemist and sold openly in stores as a vitamin.

MDMA and LSD on the other hand are not considered major problems in Japan. Fanning the flames of Sawajiri's arrest for possessing two MDMA tabs and one LSD tab is just an egregious obsession with her personal life. It seems to have very little to do with drugs, and nothing to do with addiction.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

This bird has been singing like a canary.

Not only has she confessed to taking various other illegal drugs, but she has given police the names a few associates of hers as well.

Could anyone ever trust her again ?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I get it, this country loathes drugs and drug use, but do they have to seriously overdramatize this? Again, I’m not condoning what she did, but at the same time going by the media coverage, you’d think the woman murdered someone. Smh...

2 ( +2 / -0 )

She is a hardcore druggie, she was “candy flipping”

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

She looked good in her last movie, thought she understood the meaning of life but still depressed with 1 litre of tears!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

You realize her drug test turned up clean, right? She had no drugs in her system.

An addict with no drugs in their system, and drugs in their house? That has never existed ever, in all of history.

Wasn't aware of her drug test. But I agree with you that there is no evidence that she is a drug addict -the drugs she had on her were not the type that lead to addiction.

Opiate paid killers would be far more likely to lead to addiction than the small selection of non-addictive substances she had.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

She is a hardcore druggie, she was “candy flipping”

What on earth are you on about? She clearly was not a "hardcore druggie", so your claims about candy flipping suggest that you have remembered a phrase from an article in a newspaper from years ago.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

This bird has been singing like a canary. Not only has she confessed to taking various other illegal drugs, but she has given police the names a few associates of hers as well.

Could anyone ever trust her again ?

Can you provide any evidence of her being untruthful? The only people who might not trust her are those who have something to hide.

Where she is clearly being untruthful is her claim to be a drug addict - clearly untrue.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I swear reading about, living under the threat of any inter action with J justice is worse than any bad trip I've had. Don't party don't smile in public see friends 1 time a year...you should be fine.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The police searched her home in Tokyo last month when she returned after a night out at a club and found 0.19 grams of powder containing MDMA, 0.6 grams of liquid containing LSD and a small piece of paper laced with LSD.

So little stuff.

In a country where you are ostracised if you do not get drunk every evening with your colleagues...

What a farce!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

yes! japan is awesome! destroy a person's character for a minor disdemeanour. but ony if they don't have political influence. if they do, then everything is fine.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

and anything she says from the day of arrest forward is scripted by her counsel, so you can read between the lines there.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

2: Disinterest in drugs

I've seen more drunk people in Japan than on any of my travels elsewhere and more people with hangovers the next morning. Perhaps that was only because the business people who I was working wanted to get drunk after work a few times a week?

Alcohol is far more dangerous than MDMA or marijuana. Unless doritos are endangered species.

As others said, Erika is following the "I'm guilty, I'm sorry" script in hopes of getting her career back. Typical Japanese apology.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

She's living the life.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

What on earth are you on about? She clearly was not a "hardcore druggie", so your claims about candy flipping suggest that you have remembered a phrase from an article in a newspaper from years ago.

candy flipping is taking MDMA and LSD together, something that hardcore druggies / hippies do.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

candy flipping is taking MDMA and LSD together, something that hardcore druggies / hippies do.

She had no drugs in her system.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

A young beautiful woman cant party?? Never done MDNA OR LSD but overall those are not the harsher drugs around. Imagine if she had Meth or Marijuana they would deport her back to Morocco or Spain ASAP. (Her father is Moroccan). But good Luck girl!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

This is just outrageous in my personal opinion. Pay a fine, I’m fine with that, give her probation, ok, but to completely pummel this woman and treat her like a hardcore criminal is just way, way over the top.

Also, I think the Japanese really need to learn and get a better understanding of drugs the pros and cons, why people are attracted to some, why some cultures use them traditionally, which ones are harmful and which are not, but Japan stop the curiosity that many have about wanting to try them or know more about them. Personally, I think people in this country need to smoke weed, it would ease a lot of anxiety and maybe make a lot of these people less stiff.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Erika doesn't give a damn, man. She's been pretty rebellious for years. I'm sure the apology is more so people will stop bothering her than to repair her pretty stagnate acting career.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Imagine if she had Meth or Marijuana they would deport her back to Morocco or Spain ASAP.

"Back to"? She was born in Tokyo, and is a Japanese citizen. How could they deport a Japanese citizen, and how could they send her back to either of those countries which she is not from, and is not a citizen?

(Her father is Moroccan)

Her father is Japanese.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Quote: Her father is Moroccan.

Her father is Japanese and her mother is Algerian, Erik. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erika_Sawajiri

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Naoki Yokokawa, was also arrested last week for allegedly jointly possessing with Sawajiri the MDMA found at the actress' house.

Therefore they must each only be charged with possession of half of what was confiscated.

Both of them could not have owned 100% of the amount. Also, the purity of the drugs must be proven

if it is only 5% they must only be charged with possession of that amount.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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