Erika Sawajiri
| Erika Sawajiri | |
|---|---|
| Native name | 沢尻 エリカ |
| Born |
April 8, 1986 Nerima, Tokyo, Japan |
| Other names |
Erika Kaoru Amane Kacchan, Aachan |
| Occupation | |
| Years active | 2001-2007, 2010–present |
| Agent |
|
| Notable credit(s) |
Aya Ikeuchi in 1 Litre no Namida Hotarubi in Shinobi: Heart Under Blade |
| Spouse(s) |
Tsuyoshi Takashiro (m. 2009; div. 2013) |
Erika Sawajiri (沢尻 エリカ Sawajiri Erika, born April 8, 1986 in Nerima, Tokyo) is a Japanese actress, model and singer. She appeared in the non-fiction Japanese television drama 1 Litre of Tears, playing the role of a girl who suffered from the intractable disease spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD).
On September 10, 2010, it was announced that Sawajiri had signed with Avex label for talent management and music releases. She was previously managed by the Stardust Promotion talent agency until her contract was terminated in late 2009, and was affiliated with Sony Music Entertainment Japan for her early recording career, recording under the name Kaoru Amane and, later, simply Erika.
Biography
History
Erika was born in Nerima, Tokyo, to a Japanese father and an Algerian-born French mother of Berber extraction[1][2][3] and is the youngest of three children. Her father owned sixteen racehorses, including Edonokoban (エドノコバン), giving Erika ample opportunities to engage in horseback riding as a child. Her father disappeared from home when Erika was 9 years old, returning 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 that she sometimes worked at. The family is extremely close knit, and often used Erika's photoshoots and other work as an opportunity to travel together as a family.[4]
In 1999, Sawajiri passed the Stardust audition after graduating from elementary school. She became part of the idol unit 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.
She 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 got her big break when 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 (Taiyo no Uta). 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 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]
Sawajiri was originally scheduled to star in the live action film version of Space Battleship Yamato but was replaced by Meisa Kuroki.[8][9]
Controversy
At the movie premiere for Closed Note on September 29, 2007, Sawajiri responded in a terse manner to reporters' questions.[10] After much criticism in the Japanese press, she posted an apology on her website. A few days later she appeared on a TV Asahi's morning news show Super Morning, and gave them an exclusive 120-minute interview. She also denied the rumors that she was being suspended by her management.
She had planned to attend the 12th Pusan International Film Festival on October 6, 2007, but she cancelled. It was later discovered that she had been seen in a club with Tsuyoshi Takashiro, a man 22 years her senior.[11] Sawajiri returned to Japan on March 29, 2008 after nearly three months in London with Takashiro. While in London, Sawajiri attended a language school. Her familiarity with English became evident at the airport when several cosmetics items fell out of her bag, and she exclaimed, "Oh shit!" She continued to mostly use English while at the airport, and she reportedly has become fluent enough to handle ordinary conversation.[12]
In September 2009, the Japanese media started releasing reports that her management company, Stardust Promotions, would void her contract for undisclosed reasons.[13] Her personal website became devoid of all content save one cryptic line: "See you at the next stage." Sawajiri's mother denied that termination of her contract was the result of substance abuse by Erika.[14]
On September 1, 2010, in an interview on CNNGo.com, she said that her apology after the 2007 movie premiere incident was a mistake. She didn't want to apologize but her management at that time forced her to apologize; "I told them 'this is my way'... but in the end I surrendered. That was my mistake." Sawajiri believes that the agencies that are forcing too much from their idols are too old fashioned and that "The managers themselves are old but we have to change this situation."[3]
Personal life
On January 20, 2009, Sawajiri married media creator Tsuyoshi Takashiro at Meiji Shrine in Yoyogi. The pair registered their marriage on January 7, an auspicious day according to the six-day rokuyo calendar. But on December 28, 2013, at the press conference, they officially divorced after their divorce posted on their websites.
Filmography
Movies
| Year | Japanese Title | English Title | Role | Film Production |
| 2004 | 問題のない私たち | Mondai no nai Watashitachi | Maki Shintani | Asmik Ace |
| 2005 | パッチギ! | Pacchigi! | Lee Kyung-ja | Asmik Ace |
| 阿修羅城の瞳 | Ashurajō no Hitomi | Yachi | Shochiku | |
| 忍-SHINOBI- | Shinobi: Heart Under Blade | Hotarubi | Shochiku | |
| 2006 | 間宮兄弟 | Mamiya kyodai | Naomi Honma | Asmik Ace |
| シュガー＆スパイス 風味絶佳 | Sugar & Spice | Noriko Watanabe | Toho | |
| オトシモノ | Ghost Train | Nana | Shochiku | |
| 天使の卵 | The Angel's Egg | Natsuki Saito | Shochiku | |
| 手紙 | Tegami | Yumiko Iraishi | Gaga Communications | |
| 2007 | クローズド・ノート | Closed Note | Kae Horii | Toho |
| 2012 | ヘルタースケルター | Helter Skelter | Ririko | Asmik Ace |
| 2015 | 新宿スワン | Shinjuku Swan | Ageha | Sony Pictures |
TV dramas
| Year | Japanese Title | English Title | Role | Network | Notes | With |
| 2003 | ホットマン | Hotman | Satsuki Akikawa | TBS | Supporting Role | |
| ひと夏のパパへ | Hitonatsu no Papa e | Satsuki | ||||
| ノースポイント フレンズ | NorthPoint Friends | Mami Iwasa | Hokkaido Cultural Broadcasting | |||
| 2004 | Sakura Saku made | Naoko Hayashi | MBS | |||
| 冬空に月は輝く | Fuyuzora ni Tsuki wa Kagayaku | Misa Takano | Fuji Television | |||
| 天国への応援歌 チアーズ ～チアリーディングに懸けた青春 | Cheers: Tenko e no Oenka | Yukari Akikawa | Nihon Television | |||
| Mumei | TBS | |||||
| 2005 | あいくるしい | Aikurushii | Honoka Kizaki | |||
| １リットルの涙 | 1 Litre of Tears | Aya Ikeuchi | Fuji Television | Lead Role | Nishikido Ryo | |
| 零のかなた | The Winds of God | Misaki Ohara | Asahi Television | Main Cast | ||
| 2006 | 天使の梯子 | Tenshi no Hashigo | Natsuki Saito | Fuji Television | Supporting Role | |
| タイヨウのうた | Taiyo no Uta | Kaoru Amane | TBS | Lead Role | Takayuki Yamada | |
| 2012 | L et M わたしがあなたを愛する理由、そのほかの物語 | L et M: Watashi ga Anata o Ai suru Riyu | Eru and Emu | BeeTV | ||
| 悪女について | Akujo ni Tsuite | Tomikoji Kimiko/Suzuki Kimiko | TBS | Eiichiro Funakoshi | ||
| 2013 | 時計屋の娘 | Tokeiya no Musume | Ryo Miyahara | |||
| 2014 | ファースト・クラス | First Class | Chinami Yoshinari | Fuji Television | Yuichi Nakamaru | |
| ファースト・クラス 2 | First Class 2 | |||||
| 2015 | ようこそ、わが家へ | Yōkoso, Wagaya e | Asuka Kandori | Masaki Aiba | ||
| 2016 | 大奥 | Ōoku | Omiyo and Ume | Hiroki Narimiya |
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 Taiyo 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 | Erika | Free | Commercial song of Subaru Stella + R2 |
| Erika | Fantasy | Commercial song of music.jp | |
| Yui | Love & Truth | Theme song of Closed Note | |
| Erika | Destination Nowhere | Commercial song of music.jp |
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 |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Title | Movie/drama |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Young Jump Uniform Collection | Runner up | - |
| 2002 | Fuji TV Visual Queen of the Year | - | - |
| 2005 | 18th Nikkan Sports Movie Award | Best New Comer Award | Pacchigi! |
| 30th Hochi Movie Award | Best New Comer Award | Pacchigi! | |
| 15th Tokyo Sports Movie Award | Best New Comer Award | Pacchigi! | |
| 79th Kinema Junpo Award | Best New Comer Award [Female] | Pacchigi! | |
| 29th Japan Academy Awards | Best New Comer Award [Female] | Pacchigi! | |
| 2006 Elandor Award | Best New Comer Award | 1 Litre of Tears | |
| 43rd Golden Arrow Award | Best New Comer Award | 1 Litre of Tears | |
| 2013 | 36th Japan Academy Awards | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Helter Skelter |
Discography
Singles
| Release | Title | Oricon | Album | Label | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily | Weekly | Monthly | Yearly | Debut | Overall | ||||
| August 30, 2007 | "Taiyo no Uta (The Sun's Song)" (c/w Stay with me) Kaoru Amane |
1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 150,056 | 488,000 | - | Sony Music Japan |
| July 4, 2007 | "Free" | 1 | 1 | 4 | 67 | 50,287 | 119,817 | - | Studioseven Recordings |
| November 28, 2007 | "Destination Nowhere" | 4 | 7 | 18 | 190 | 26,624 | 43,209 | - | Studioseven Recordings |
References
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
- 1 2 Robert Michael Poole (2010-09-01). "Erika Sawajiri: Inside the head of Japan's outspoken star". CNNGo. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
- ↑ 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 (Japanese)
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ New Year's Eve and further details about marriage Hochi Yomiyuri (Japanese)
- ↑ "Erika Sawajiri loses comeback movie role as contract termination looms".
- ↑ Sawajiri's Divorce (Japanese)
- ↑ Sulky Erika Sawajiri not quite big enough to pull off prima donna pouting Mainichi Japan
- ↑ 行定監督「映画がかわいそう」...“エリカ様”騒動の心中激白 Sanspo.com (Japanese)
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 沢尻エリカ、契約解除へ 重大違反が発覚
- ↑ 高城氏 エリカ契約解除なら事務所告訴も/芸能・社会/デイリースポーツ
External links
- Erika Sawajiri Official Website (Japanese)
- Erika Sawajiri Official Website (Avex Management) (Japanese)
- Kaoru Amane Official Website (Japanese)
- Erika Sawajiri at the Internet Movie Database