Erika Sawajiri
| Erika Sawajiri 沢尻 エリカ | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 8, 1986 Nerima, Tokyo, Japan |
| Other name(s) | Kaoru Amane Erika Kacchan, Aachan |
| Years active | 1999–Present |
| Spouse(s) | Tsuyoshi Takashiro |
Erika Sawajiri (沢尻 エリカ Sawajiri Erika, born April 8, 1986 in Nerima, Tokyo) is a Japan-based actress, model, and musician. Her alias in her music career was Kaoru Amane, but she has recently started her own project under the name Erika. She is currently affiliated with Sony Music Entertainment Japan for her record label as formerly Kaoru Amane and later Erika, and Stardust Promotion for her talent agency as her real name, Erika Sawajiri, and became popular after playing a girl who suffered from an intractable disease called spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD) in the nonfiction drama 1 Litre of Tears.
Biography
Erika was born to a Japanese father and a French mother[1][2] and is the youngest of three brothers and sisters. Her father owned sixteen racehorses, including the horse Edonokoban (エドノコバン). Her father died of cancer when she was in her third year at junior high school. Her second eldest brother died in a car accident when she was in her first year at high school. Her mother managed a Mediterranean restaurant and Erika sometimes helped with it. She has been horseback riding since she was a child.[3]
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 (magazine)|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 also 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 (Taiyou no Uta). The single went into number 1 in its second and fourth week. On July 16, 2007, Erika released her 'debut' single under only Erika entitled "Free". The single was immediately ranked on its first day as number one on the Oricon Charts. 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.
She decided to enter the entertainment world because she wanted to meet singer Namie Amuro whom she idolizes.
On January 20, 2009, Sawajiri married media creator Tsuyoshi Takashiro at Meiji Shrine in Yoyogi. The pair registered their marriage on January 7, which fell on the most auspicious of the days - or taian - according to the six-day rokuyo calendar, and they held a small reception for close friends and family in Hawaii later that month.
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.[4]
Sawajiri was originally scheduled to star in the live action film version of Space Battleship Yamato, but was replaced by Meisa Kuroki.[5]
Controversy and criticism
On September 29, 2007, Sawajiri showed up at the Closed Note movie premiere.[6] She answered questions she was asked with very short off putting answers. Many people perceived this as a 'bad attitude'. After much criticism in the Japanese press, she posted an official apology on her website, explaining that she was upset for a personal issue before going into the press conference.[7] She states that she regrets her attitude, and what she did was very unprofessional and she shouldn't have let her mood affect her job. 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 said again that she was sorry for what she did, and she knew there was nothing she could do to change what happened, but she would try to make up for it. She also denied the rumors that she was being suspended by her management.
Following this issue, she was going to attend the 12th Pusan International Film Festival, which was held on October 6, 2007, but she announced she would not attend this.
What was later found out after the interview was that she had been seen in the club with a man who was said to be her lover Tsuyoshi Takashiro.[8] She has been rumoured to not have anything in her 2008 schedule and that she is staying in United Kingdom for a year and take a break in the entertainment industry. Stardust Promotion have confirmed to replace her during that time period with an actress Kaho.[9]
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.[10]
In September 2009, the Japanese media started releasing reports that her management company, Stardust Promotions, would void her contract for undisclosed reasons.[11] 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.[12]
Filmography
Movies
| Date | Movie | Role | Production Company |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004.02.28 | Mondai no nai watashitachi | Shintani Maki (新谷麻綺) | Asmik Ace |
| 2005.01.22 | Pacchigi!
(We Shall Overcome Someday) |
Lee Kyung-ja 李慶子、リ･キョンジャ、이경자 | Asmik Ace |
| 2005.04.16 | Ashurajou no Hitomi | 谷地 | Shochiku |
| 2005.09.17 | Shinobi: Heart Under Blade [1] | Hotarubi (蛍火) | Shochiku |
| 2006.05.13 | Mamiya kyodai[2] | Naomi Honma (本間直美) | Asmik Ace |
| 2006.09.16 | Sugar & Spice[3] | Noriko Watanabe (渡辺乃里子) | Toho |
| 2006.09.30 | Otoshimono (Ghost Train)[4] | Nana (奈々) | Shochiku |
| 2006.10.21 | Tentama 天使の卵[5] | Natsuki Saito (斎藤夏姫) | Shochiku |
| 2006.11.11 | Tegami 手紙 [6] | Yumiko Iraishi (白石由美子) | Gaga Communications |
| 2007.09.29 | Closed Note (クローズド・ノート) | Kae Hori (堀井香恵) | Toho |
TV dramas
| Year | Drama | Role | Broadcasting Company |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Hotman ホットマン | Satsuki Akikawa (秋川さつき) | TBS |
| Hitonatsu no Papa e ひと夏のパパへ[7] | Satsuki (さつき) | TBS | |
| 2004 | Sakura Sakumade 桜咲くまで | Naoko Hayashi (林菜穂子) | MBS |
| 2005 | Aikurushii あいくるしい[8] | Honoka Kizaki (木崎 ほのか) | TBS |
| 1 Litre of Tears 1リットルの涙[9] | Aya Ikeuchi (池内 亜也) | Fuji Television | |
| 2006 | A Song to the Sun タイヨウのうた [10] | Kaoru Amane (雨音 薫) | TBS |
Special dramas
| Date | Drama | Role | Broadcasting Company |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003.02.02 | NorthPoint Friends | Mami Iwasa (岩佐マミ) | Hokkaido Cultural Broadcasting |
| 2004.02.11 | Fuyuzora ni Tsuki ha Kagayaku 冬空に月は輝く | - | Fuji Television |
| 2004.04.03 | Cheers ~ Tenkou e no Ouenka | Yukari Akikawa (秋川ゆかり) | Nihon Television |
| 2004.11.23 | Mumei | - | TBS |
| 2005.09.10 | The Winds of God | Misaki Ohara (大原美咲) | Asahi Television |
| 2006.10.22 | Tenshi no hashigo | Natsuki Saito (斎藤夏姫) | Fuji Television |
Music videos
| Year | Singer | Music Video Clip | Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Kishidan | Secret Love Story | - |
| Zeebra feat. Hiro | Big Big Money | - | |
| 2005 | Rip Slyme | Hey! Brother | Theme song of Mamiya kyodai[11] |
| 2006 | Kaoru Amane | A Song to the Sun (タイヨウのウタ Taiyou 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 |
CM
| Year | Product | Company |
|---|---|---|
| 2005–2006 | Amenity, Cook Nuevo & Yulax | Yamahisa |
| Flet's Phone | NTT Docomo | |
| K Album Beyond the Sea | SonyMusic | |
| - | ANA Live | |
| 2006 | Xylish Show | Meiji Seika |
| Sala | Kanebo | |
| Kaoru Amane Single Taiyou no Uta | SonyMusic | |
| 2007 | SonyEricsson W51S | SonyEricsson |
| Pepsi Nex Zero | Pepsi | |
| Stella + R2 | Subaru | |
| SonyEricsson W52S | SonyEricsson | |
| SonyEricsson W53S | SonyEricsson | |
| Fran | Meiji Seika | |
| Coffretd'or | Kanebo | |
| Sala | Kanebo | |
| Erika Single Free | Studioseven Recordings | |
| Erika Single Destination Nowhere | Studioseven Recordings | |
| 2008 | Sala ~Superior~ | Kanebo |
| Sala ~Straight Mist~ | Kanebo |
Publications
Photobooks
| Year | Book Title | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | P-chu! | Wani Book |
| 2004 | Erika | 学習研究 |
| 2007 | Erika2007 | SDP |
Discography
Singles
| Release | Title' | Oricon | Album | Label | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily | Weekly | Monthly | Yearly | Debut | Overall | ||||
| 2006.08.30 | "Taiyou no Uta (The Sun's Song)" (c/w Stay with me) Kaoru Amane |
1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 150,056 | 488,000 | - | Sony Music Japan |
| 2007.07.04 | "Free" 1st Single |
1 | 1 | 4 | 67 | 50,287 | 119,817 | TBD | Studioseven Recordings |
| 2007.11.28 | "Destination Nowhere" 2nd Single |
4 | 7 | 18 | 190 | 26,624 | 43,209 | TBD | Studioseven Recordings |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Title | Movie/Drama |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Young Jump Uniform Collection | Runner up | - |
| 2002 | Fuji TV's Visual Queen of the Year | - | - |
| 2005 | 18th Nikkan Sports Movie Award | Best New Comer Award | Pacchigi! |
| 30th Houchi 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 |
References
- ↑ "沢尻エリカ＆高城剛氏のプロフィール" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports (Japan: Nikkan Sports News). 22 December 2008. http://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/p-et-tp0-20081222-442697.html. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
- ↑ "沢尻エリカ、契約解除へ 重大違反が発覚" (in Japanese). Sports Hochi (Japan: The Hochi Shimbun). 26 September 2009. http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/entertainment/news/20090926-OHT1T00076.htm. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
- ↑ 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)
- ↑ New Year's Eve and further details about marriage Hochi Yomiyuri (Japanese)
- ↑ "Erika Sawajiri loses comeback movie role as contract termination looms". http://www.japantoday.com/category/entertainment-arts/view/erika-sawajiri-loses-comeback-movie-role-after-agency-terminates-contract.
- ↑ Sulky Erika Sawajiri not quite big enough to pull off prima donna pouting Mainichi Japan (Template:ISO 639 name en)
- ↑ Apology by her on her website (Japanese)
- ↑ 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)
- ↑ Stardust Announces "New Erika"
- ↑ Connell, Ryann (April 11, 2008). "'Oh ****!' - Foul-mouthed starlet Sawajiri's career in crisis". Mainichi Shimbun. http://mdn.mainichi.jp/culture/waiwai/face/news/20080411p2g00m0dm004000c.html. 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 page by Stardust Promotion (Japanese) Template:Dead link
- Kaoru Amane Official Website (Japanese)
- Erika Sawajiri at Model Imago
- Erika Sawajiri at the Internet Movie Database
ar:إيريكا ساواجيري fr:Erika Sawajiri ko:사와지리 에리카 id:Erika Sawajiri it:Erika Sawajiri ja:沢尻エリカ pl:Erika Sawajiri th:เอริกะ ซาวาจิริ zh:澤尻英龍華