After her agent terminated her contract, actress Erika Sawajiri, 23, avoided the media and left Japan for Germany on Sept 26, while her husband, Tsuyoshi Takashiro, 45, fled to the UK. Sawajiri's dismissal was blamed on "personal matters." Sawajiri's neighbors in Setagaya weren't sad to see her go. One neighbor said there had been numerous complaints by residents about loud music and noise coming out of her home in the wee hours of the night.
Her former agent, Stardust Promotion, is said to have sacked the actress for several reasons. She was questioned by police for suspicion of violating traffic laws during her stay in Amami-oshima to see the solar eclipse. Her husband allegedly profited from using Sawajiri, without the consent of her agent, to promote the fashion brand Marc Jacobs, which he holds an interest in.
But rumors in the entertainment industry hint that Takashiro, suspected of using illegal drugs, may be the true reason behind his wife’s dismissal by the agency. The couple had been at the July solar eclipse event where it is now known that Noriko Sakai and her husband were taking drugs. Additionally, Takashiro made a public statement in a magazine interview about his own drug use in the past. Takashiro is known to travel widely, which has continued after his marriage to Sawajiri. His favorite destination seems to be the Spanish island of Ibiza in the Mediterranean, also known as a haven for clubbers and buyers of cheap marijuana and chemical drugs. Takashiro apparently is so fond of this island that he visits there annually and has even produced a book, published with his name as editor.
Sawajiri lost her chance of a comeback as the leading actress in the film “Space Battleship Yamato,” slated for release next year. A film industry source comments, “Those in the TV and film business are extremely sensitive about drug-related issues after the Sakai and Oshio incident. It is not uncommon now to use media reporters with police connections to check up on any gossip in advance.”
Any suspicion of drug use by actors can be financially devastating for the sponsor and production side. Sawajiri’s loss of her role has already impacted the promotional value of the film, and it is rumored that those representing lead actor Takuya Kimura are infuriated. It was inevitable that Stardust Promotion decided to sack Sawajiri.
Takashiro has denied any involvement with drug use. In reference to Sakai and Oshio, with whom he says he was not acquainted, he commented in his Sept 27 blog entry on the “social responsibility and illegal actions on the part of the mass media.”
But journalist Akihiro Otani counters: “To make a statement in an interview hinting his own drug use certainly raises questions about his common sense and propriety as an individual who can influence the media. Instead of making remarks on the legitimacy of the media’s actions, he ought to explain the inconsistencies found in his public statements.”
The use of illegal drugs appears to be infiltrating the entire entertainment industry, the most recent incident being the arrest of a former member of the rock band Otoko-gumi on suspicion of marijuana possession. After Sawajiri and Takashiro, what’s next?
© Japan Today
27 Comments
Login to comment
Sarge
Sawajiri is ridiculously cute, and has a dynamite body.
When she was three, her husband was 25.
nath
Hahaaa Sarge. 3-25 cool!
stirfry
class act to throw your wife under the bus like that...doosh
seesaw
The price of fame...:)
PepinGalarga
Yeah, what a waste. She is so beautiful, even if she lacks in the people skills. The thing is no one has really seen her do anything. Guilt by association is a career killer here. Even being in the same town as other perps is bad for your rep.
tenguleavings
Keenly perceived. Obviously this the source of society's decay and a solution must be aggressively pursued.
Goodguy
This guy is actually pretty smart. Cut off her own source of income and thus become soley dependent on him. Gods know why she is with him in first plce other than $$$$.
mattias78
What is happening here happens all the time - why is this such a big deal? Rock stars have the party lifestyle, that is why they do what they do! The comment "The use of illegal drugs appears to be infiltrating the entire entertainment industry..." sounds like it is written by someone who has no clue about celebrities and stars - where have you been for the last 30 years????
Shaolin7
It's remarkable and amusing seeing how some of you pander to a pretty woman, and gloss over things, that you'd not for an instant let pass if she were plain or worse yet, out and out dowdy or ugly. Hypocrisy at its finest!
I'd agree with PepinGalarga that so far, all she's done in public has been to behave like a petulant, spoilt brat. These two winners deserve one another...
usaexpat
"The use of illegal drugs appears to be infiltrating the entire entertainment industry, the most recent incident being the arrest of a former member of the rock band Otoko-gumi on suspicion of marijuana possession. After Sawajiri and Takashiro, what’s next? "
I almost peed my pants. Wow drug use in the entertainment industry, in Japan? Ha Ha Ha Of course there is drug use and also among salarymen, teachers, government officials, construction workers and fishermen too. What a joke, drug use is a fact of life in every society why feign surprise?
dolphingirl
'the use of illegal drugs appears to be infiltrating the entire entertainment industry' --What a brilliant observation! Like that is new information. Celebrities use drugs, rock stars use drugs, sumo wrestlers and teachers use drugs. So what?!
nightvision
Yep, what a waste. Sawajiri, behavior aside, had talent unlike most cutie idols lately. Anyway, she gets what she deserves. Had she only been more repentant after that press conference issue and resumed working professionally despite the criticism, she would've bounced back. But no, she instead left work to nurse her wounds and married an apparent nutcase. Her only recourse now is to divorce her sugar daddy and make a complete turnaround... which would be wihsful thinking for now.
Damien15
Sad being we are. What happend to innocent until proven guilty? Why can't we respect their space and leave them alone for god sake. Unless she is showing up to work all messed up on drugs, there should be no reason for ending her contract. It's their loss 'cause she is so beautiful, she'll find other opportunnities in other countries. Countries that won't jail her due to gossips and rumors, loud music or attending solar eclipse parties.
timorborder
Wonderful society when a husband is willing to sell out his missus. Happened in the Sakai case, and it seems to be happening here.
Anyway, if Sawajiri did do drugs down in the boonies, what is she doing being allowed to enter the United Kingdom (who have their own drug problems). If the Japanese police can prove something beyond doubt, maybe they might go through Interpol to get her expelled from the UK.
terebiko
Feel sorry for Noriko Sakai. Seems that if you were anywhere near her, you are suspected of drug abuse. I once watched one of her dramas, hope they don't come after me. Sawajiri does have people problems. Whether she chooses to deal with them or not, is up to her. She hasn't really been active in the entertainment industry lately, and unfortunately for her, I don't think anyone has really noticed. I liked her in dramas and films, but there are a lot of young actresses of her caliber available. Whatever she decides, good luck to her.
bobbafett
Takahiro has attempted to destroy his young wife's career by throwing her to the lions. After what happened to Noriko, it must be a calculated move by the old man to rein in his freedom seeking young wife. A typical move by a control freak.
chewbakayaro
All she has to do is as they do in Hollywood and Bollywood - sleep around with a few of the industry folks. She'll be back on the big screen in no time.
jason6
I don't see anything in the article supporting what the title says. Am I mis-reading??
terebiko
After re-reading the title, I see what you mean jason6. When I first read it, it sounded like Erika's husband had said she was taking drugs. Actually it is saying that Erika's husband's drug use is the reason Erika was fired. This is supported by the first sentence in the third paragraph:
"But rumors in the entertainment industry hint that Takashiro, suspected of using illegal drugs, may be the true reason behind his wife’s dismissal by the agency."
Confusing title.
Foxie
Not another one! Maybe the cops should get the names of all the participants at that Solar Eclypse festival. The arrest rates would surely go up that way.
BurakuminDes
Ha ha! Says it all really! Methinks quite a few of these J-Pop idols have been getting into the ol' "Stardust"...
bdiego
Pretty silly that they cite a traffic violation as one of the reasons. And too bad this article fails to mention it was on a bike.
bdiego
Yeah, title is ambiguous under English grammar rules.
badmigraine
Where's the evidence of "beautiful" or "talented"? All I ever saw were shots of her with straggly hair and those giant sunglasses celebs to hide behind. As for talent, how do we know? Did she do anything good?
ptolemy
Sawajiri said, "Betsu ni." pretty dramatically. I think that is about all she really did though. Seems to be her entire career. That and the "casting couch tango" to get the parts she had.
unrested
damn and i bet battle ship yamamoto was going to be SO AMAZING!! like all other japanese movies whose, fx, quality, and plots are comparable to american day-time soaps.
Jizzeez
This article is hilarious.I love: "The use of illegal drugs appears to be infiltrating the entire entertainment industry, the most recent incident being the arrest of a former member of the rock band Otoko-gumi on suspicion of marijuana possession." What's next? The suspicion that certain members of SMAP may like wearing make up?