Erika Sawajiri

Erika Sawajiri (沢尻 エリカ, Sawajiri Erika, born April 8, 1986) is a former Japanese actress, singer, and model. After starting out as a junior model, Sawajiri transitioned to acting in 2002 and has starred in Break Through!, Shinobi: Heart Under Blade, and 1 Litre of Tears, for all of which she received several newcomer acting awards. Sawajiri also launched a singing career through the 2006 television drama Taiyō no Uta, where her first commercially-released song of the same name was certified Million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan. She later released solo music under the name Erika.

Erika Sawajiri
沢尻 エリカ
Born
Erika Sawajiri (澤尻 エリカ)

(1986-04-08) April 8, 1986
Nerima, Tokyo, Japan
Other namesErika
Occupation
  • Actress
  • singer
  • model
Years active2001–2007, 2010–2020
Agent
Notable credit(s)
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 2009; div. 2013)​

In 2007, Sawajiri went on hiatus after her public image was affected by her controversial statements and personal relationships. She later returned to acting in 2010 and starred in Helter Skelter, for which she was awarded Best Leading Actress at the 36th Japan Academy Film Prize. On November 16, 2019, she was arrested for drug possession, and during her trial in January 2020, she stated that she had no plans on continuing her career.

Early life

Erika Sawajiri was born in Nerima, Tokyo to a Japanese father and an Algerian (Kabyle, raised in France) mother[1][2][3] and is the youngest of three children. Her father owned sixteen racehorses, including Edonokoban (エドノコバン), giving her ample opportunities to engage in horseback riding as a child. Her father disappeared from home when she was 9 years old and returned when she was in her third year at junior high school, only to die from cancer that year. Her second eldest brother died in a traffic accident when she was in her first year at high school. Her eldest brother is a former actor. Her mother managed a Mediterranean restaurant where she occasionally helped.[4]

Career

In 1999, Sawajiri passed the Stardust audition after graduating from elementary school. She became part of the idol girl group Angel Eyes and began modeling for junior fashion magazines such as Cutie and Nicola. She later won the grand prize for the 2001 Seikore and became a regular on the BS news program Harajuku Launchers. In 2002, Sawajiri started her career in film as well as extending her modeling career as a gravure idol. Her first film was Mondai no nai Watashitachi.

Sawajiri became one of Fuji TV's Visual Queens in 2002. On the NTV variety show The Yoru mo Hit Parade, she became a regular from April till late June, shortly after leaving the program for the CX news program Chou VIP Fortune no Tobira from mid-June till late August. In November, she was on the CBC variety show Bijou Dokyuu and TBS show B-1. She was cast in the TBS TV drama Hotman. Her most notable role was in 1 Litre of Tears in 2005 when she portrayed a girl with the degenerative disease spinocerebellar degeneration.

Sawajiri first started her music career under the name "Kaoru Amane", the name of her character in her last drama, the TV adaptation of A Song to the Sun. The single went into number 1 in its second and fourth week. It was certified Triple Platinum for cell phone downloads of 750,000.[5] On July 16, 2007, Erika released her debut single under the name "Erika", "Free". The single was immediately ranked on its first day as number one on the Oricon Charts. "Free" was certified Platinum for cell phone downloads of 250,000.[6] Oricon stated that she is the only artist in 39 years to get their first two single hit number one since Hiroko Yakushimaru in 1983.

Sawajiri had planned to attend the 12th Busan International Film Festival on October 6, 2007, but she cancelled. Sawajiri and her mother both stated on separate occasions that she would return to Japan and make a comeback as soon as late summer 2009.[7] In 2012, Sawajiri was originally scheduled to star in the live action film version of Space Battleship Yamato but was replaced by Meisa Kuroki.[8][9]

In 2013, Sawajiri won Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 36th Japan Academy Awards for her performance in Helter Skelter.[10]

After Sawajiri's November 2019 arrest, she was replaced in the television drama Kirin ga Kuru with Haruna Kawaguchi.[11] She later stated in January 2020 that she had no plans on continuing her career.[12] In February 2020, Avex ended their contract with her.[13]

Personal life

Sawajiri dated Tsuyoshi Takashiro as early as October 2007.[14] She returned to Japan on March 29, 2008 after nearly three months in London with Takashiro. While in London, she attended a language school and has become fluent enough in English to handle ordinary conversation.[15] On January 20, 2009, Sawajiri married Takashiro at Meiji Shrine in Yoyogi and had registered their marriage on January 7.[16] On December 28, 2013, at the press conference, they announced they had divorced.[17]

Closed Note controversy

During the premiere for Closed Note on September 29, 2007, Sawajiri, seemingly unhappy with the film, gave terse answers to the reporters.[18] Subsequently, her actions were widely criticized for disrespecting her co-stars and the staff of the film.[3] She issued an apology on her website and during her interview on Super Morning, where she also denied the rumors that she was being suspended by her management.[3][19][20] The incident, compounded with Sawajiri's relationship with Takashiro, affected her public image greatly,[3] and she withdrew her appearance at the Busan International Film Festival because of it.[21] She later abruptly put her acting career on hiatus and Stardust Promotion eventually dropped her as an act in 2009 after her divorce.[3] On September 1, 2010, in an interview with CNN Go, Sawajiri regretted apologizing and claimed that her management had pressured her to do so.[3] Since the incident, the phrase "None, really" (別に, Betsu ni), one of her responses to the reporters, became a viral phenomenon,[18] and she was featured in a Snickers commercial in 2011 parodying herself.[22]

Drug arrest and trial

On November 16, 2019, Sawajiri was arrested on suspicion of possessing MDMAs at her home.[23][24] She reportedly admitted to using drugs for the past 10 years, including marijuana, LSD and cocaine.[25] During her criminal trial on January 31, 2020, Sawajiri pled guilty to the charges and admitted she had been using drugs since she was 19 years old.[26] On February 6, 2020, she was sentenced to 18 months in prison and 3 years suspension by the Tokyo District Court.[12]

Filmography

Films
Year Title Role Note
2004 Mondai no nai Watashitachi Maki Shintani
2005 Break Through! Lee Kyung-ja
Ashurajō no Hitomi Yachi
Shinobi: Heart Under Blade Hotarubi
2006 Mamiya Kyodai Naomi Honma
Sugar & Spice Noriko Watanabe
Ghost Train Nana
The Angel's Egg Natsuki Saito
Tegami Yumiko Iraishi
2007 Closed Note Kae Horii　　　
2012 Helter Skelter Ririko　　
2015 Shinjuku Swan Ageha　　
2018 Impossibility Defense Tada
The Cat In His Arms Saori
Eating Women Keiko Komugita
Million Dollar Man Towako Yasuda
2019 No Longer Human Shizuko Ōta

Television
Year Title Role Network Note
2003 Hotman Satsuki Akikawa TBS
Hitonatsu no Papa e Satsuki TBS
NorthPoint Friends Mami Iwasa UHB
2004 Sakura Saku made Naoko Hayashi MBS
Fuyuzora ni Tsuki wa Kagayaku Misa Takano CX
Cheers: Tenko e no Oenka Yukari Akikawa NTV
Mumei TBS
2005 Aikurushii Honoka Kizaki TBS
1 Litre of Tears Aya Ikeuchi CX Lead role
The Winds of God Misaki Ohara EX
2006 Tenshi no Hashigo Natsuki Saito CX
Taiyō no Uta Kaoru Amane TBS Lead role
2012 L et M: Watashi ga Anata o Ai suru Riyu Eru and Emu BeeTV Lead role
Akujo ni Tsuite Tomikoji Kimiko/Suzuki Kimiko TBS Lead role
2013 Tokeiya no Musume Ryo Miyahara TBS Lead role
2014 First Class Chinami Yoshinari CX Lead role
First Class 2 Chinami Yoshinari CX Lead role
2015 Yōkoso, Wagaya e Asuka Kandori CX
2016 Ōoku Omiyo and Ume CX Lead role
Moumoku no Yoshinori-sensei: Hikari wo Ushinatte Kokoro ga Mieta Mayumi Arai NTV
2017 Haha ni Naru Yui Kashiwazaki NTV Lead role
2018 The Vultures Takako Matsudaira[27] EX
2019 Shiroi Kyotō Keiko Hanamori EX [28]

Music videos
Year Singer Title Remarks
2003 Kishidan Secret Love Story -
Zeebra feat. Hiro Big Big Money -
2005 Rip Slyme Hey! Brother Theme song of Mamiya kyodai
2006 Kaoru Amane A Song to the Sun (タイヨウのウタ, Taiyō no Uta) Theme song of A Song to the Sun
Kaoru Amane Stay With Me Insert song of A Song to the Sun
Miliyah Kato I Will Theme song of Otoshimono
SunSet Swish Kimi ga Iru kara 君がいるから Theme song of Tentama
Hitomi Takahashi Komorebi Theme song of Tegami
2007 Yui Love & Truth Theme song of Closed Note

Variety shows
Year Variety Show Broadcasting Company
2001 Harajuku Ronchazu -
2002 The Night of Hit Parade Nihon Television
Super VIP -
2002–2003 B-1 TBS
2003–2004 Aidoru wa -
Unknown Mecha x2 Ikederu! -

DVDs
Year DVD Publisher
2002 Cava? Wani Book
2003 D-Splash! -
Erica 学習研究
2005 Color For-side.com

Publications
Year Book title Publisher
2003 P-chu! Wani Book
2004 Erika 学習研究
2007 Erika2007 SDP

Discography

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album
JPN
"Free" 2007 1 119,817+ Non-album single
"Destination Nowhere" 7 43,209+ Non-album single
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Soundtrack appearances
Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album
JPN
"Taiyō no Uta"
(credited as Kaoru Amane)		 2007 1 488,000+ Non-album single
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Awards and accolades
Year Award Category Work Result
2001 Young Jump Uniform Collection Runner up N/A Won
2002 Fuji TV Visual Queen of the Year Visual Queen of the Year N/A Won
2005 18th Nikkan Sports Movie Award Best Newcomer Award Break Through! Won[29]
30th Hochi Movie Award Won[30]
2006 27th Yokohama Film Festival Best New Talent Break Through!, Shinobi: Heart Under Blade Won[31]
79th Kinema Junpo Award Best Newcomer Award [Female] Break Through!, Ashurajō no Hitomi, Shinobi: Heart Under Blade Won[32]
29th Japan Academy Film Prize Break Through! Won[33]
15th Tokyo Sports Movie Award Best Newcomer Award Break Through!, Shinobi: Heart Under Blade Won[34]
2006 Elan d'or Awards 1 Litre of Tears Won[35]
43rd Golden Arrow Award Won[36]
2013 36th Japan Academy Film Prize Best Leading Actress Helter Skelter Won[10]

References
  1. 沢尻エリカ＆高城剛氏のプロフィール. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). Japan: Nikkan Sports News. 22 December 2008. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  2. 沢尻エリカ、契約解除へ 重大違反が発覚. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). Japan: The Hochi Shimbun. 26 September 2009. Archived from the original on 27 September 2009. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  3. Robert Michael Poole (2010-09-01). "Erika Sawajiri: Inside the head of Japan's outspoken star". CNNGo. Archived from the original on 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
  4. スターダストプロモーション　沢尻エリカのプロフィール Stardust Promotion (in Japanese)
  5. 一般社団法人 日本レコード協会｜各種統計. Riaj.or.jp. Retrieved on 2014-06-20.
  6. 一般社団法人 日本レコード協会｜各種統計. Riaj.or.jp. Retrieved on 2014-06-20.
  7. New Year's Eve and further details about marriage Archived 2009-02-10 at the Wayback Machine Hochi Yomiyuri (in Japanese)
  8. "Erika Sawajiri loses comeback movie role as contract termination looms". Archived from the original on 2012-09-13.
  9. Sawajiri's Divorce Archived 2010-05-03 at the Wayback Machine (in Japanese)
  10. 日本アカデミー賞公式サイト. japan-academy-prize.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved on 2017-06-26.
  11. "NHK to delay start of drama to reshoot scenes played by arrested actress Erika Sawajiri". Mainichi Shimbun. 2019-11-26. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  12. "Japanese actress Erika Sawajiri given suspended term for drug possession". The Japan Times. 2020-02-06. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  13. "沢尻エリカ被告有罪でも所属事務所エイベックスは契約終了せず ６日判決公判". Sankei Sports. 2020-02-02. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  14. 行定監督「映画がかわいそう」...“エリカ様”騒動の心中激白 Archived 2007-10-11 at the Wayback Machine Sanspo.com (in Japanese)
  15. Connell, Ryann (April 11, 2008). "'Oh ****!' - Foul-mouthed starlet Sawajiri's career in crisis". Mainichi Shimbun. Archived from the original on 2008-04-14. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
  16. Erika Sawajiri's relatively cheap marriage, archived from the original on 2009-01-31, retrieved 2017-06-26
  17. 沢尻エリカ、緊急会見「来年は心機一転、仕事頑張る」, archived from the original on 2013-12-28, retrieved 2017-06-26
  18. "沢尻エリカ被告「別に…」騒動時すでに薬物使用疑い". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  19. エリカ様テレ朝インタビューで泣いた, archived from the original on 2007-10-11, retrieved 2017-06-26
  20. 沢尻エリカ、契約解除へ　重大違反が発覚 Archived 2009-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  21. Schilling, Mark (2007-10-06). "Japanese go nuts over 'Note'". Variety. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  22. "沢尻エリカ、自分を「パロッちゃうみたいな」 インパクト大！「スニッカーズ」新CM撮影の舞台裏！". Cinema Today (in Japanese). 2011-10-28. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  23. Nussey, Sam (November 16, 2019). "Japanese actress Erika Sawajiri arrested for suspected drug possession: NHK". Reuters.
  24. "Japan actress Erika Sawajiri admits to using MDMA, other illegal drugs". The Mainichi. November 17, 2019.
  25. "Actress Erika Sawajiri admits taking illegal drugs for over 10 years". Kyodo News. November 18, 2019.
  26. "沢尻エリカ被告に懲役１年６か月求刑 女優復帰「考えてない」". NHK (in Japanese). 2020-01-31. Archived from the original on 2020-02-04. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  27. キャスト｜木曜ドラマ『ハゲタカ』 (in Japanese). TV Asahi. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  28. "沢尻エリカ、"財前"岡田准一の愛人役に 「白い巨塔」出演決定＜本人コメント＞". Modelpress. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
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  31. Yokohama Film Festival. imdb.com. Retrieved on 2017-06-26.
  32. 2005年度 ＜第７９回＞キネマ旬報ベスト・テン表彰式. cinematopics.com (in Japanese). Retrieved on 2017-06-26.
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