Amphetamine Abuse Actress Set To Return To Japanese TV
by julia on Tuesday, May 14, 2013
by julia on Tuesday, May 14, 2013
You may remember Sakai Noriko from her dozens of pop singles in the late 80s and early 90s, or perhaps you’ve seen her in a number of TV appearances, including roles in theChibi Maruko-chan live-action series and Ju-on: The Grudge 2. Sakai was a household name for decades in Japan before getting involved in a drug scandal in 2009 after being caught abusing amphetamines.
Now, Sakai is trying to rebuild her career in the entertainment business, and the media has demonstrated its willingness to forgive and forget by lavishing attention on her upcoming TV appearance in July. The following article focuses on a charming and self-aware Sakai, and only briefly touches on the scandal. However, netizens are proving to be much less forgiving of her past indiscretions.
From Yahoo! Japan:
Sakai Noriko “Shakes from Nervousness” in First Television Appearance Since Her Comeback
On May 7, actress Sakai Noriko (42) revealed that she will appear in a guest role in the BS Japan drama “The Men’s and Women’s Scandal File III: Misunderstanding”, part of the original series “The Black Report” (airs July 6 at 9pm), responding to press inquiries alongside lead actor Ishiguro Ken. This will be Sakai’s first appearance in a television drama since she returned to the entertainment industry, and her last TV appearance was five years ago. “I was way more nervous than I expected—I was shaking!” said Sakai, laughing bashfully. “To me, this was the first step towards a new challenge. I’ll remember this drama for the rest of my life. I’m so grateful.”
Sakai’s last TV appearance was in “Marumaru Chibi Maruko-chan” on Fuji Television, from April 2007 to February 2008. Since co-starring with Ishiguro in “I Am Your Friend” on TBS in 1995, this is their first time appearing in a drama together in 18 years. Sakai said with a smile, “Mr. Ishiguro is a very warm person, and that atmosphere pervades the entire scene. On my first day after such a long absence, I came to the set full of tension, but I was able to perform in the great atmosphere of the scene.”
Ishiguro also gave his stamp of approval, saying, “I thought she was a very sensitive actress. She was nervous, but once we got going she regained her intuition and I wasn’t worried at all.” When discussing a scene in the drama where Sakai strikes Ishiguro, Sakai said “I practiced snapping my wrist ahead of time,” and burst out laughing at her own joke.
Sakai in more innocent times, early on in her pop career.
Sakai herself has some experience being involved in a real-life scandal. “Without fixating on that, to be able to get a job like this is fate, or rather, it’s huge that I could play this part,” she said emotionally. “I’m enjoying it, and I really want to make it a great production.”
Sakai appears as Kamijou Risa , a competent editor who trains a bestselling author, in “The Fifth Report: The Extortionist,“ directed by Fukasaku Kenta and with a screenplay by Hibino Hitoshi that dramatizes a real-life incident. The episode follows the incident of a restaurant chain manager who kills his ex-cabaret dancer girlfriend and her young child, then kills himself.
