Erika Sawajiri

Erika Sawajiri loses comeback movie role as contract termination looms

TOKYO —

Erika Sawajiri, 23, has lost her part in an upcoming movie that was supposed to mark her comeback as an actress, with the role going to actress Meisa Kuroki, 21.

Sawajiri was initially chosen over Kuroki and several other candidates to be the leading lady in “Space Battleship Yamato,” scheduled to hit cinemas in December next year. Filming for the movie - rumored to have production costs of roughly 1 billion yen - will start next month.

The change in casting came about after Sawajiri’s agency, Stardust Promotion, informed production management that they were considering terminating her contract. Stardust has not yet confirmed the reason behind her forthcoming dismissal but one staff member did say that it was due to a significant breach of contract.

Sawajiri has spent most of her time in Spain and England since getting married to media creator Takeshi Takashiro, 45, at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo in January. She was seen heading for a fashion show in New York in February wearing fashion items Stardust viewed as a promotion for Takashiro’s business interests.

In July, she was cautioned by police on Amami Oshima, an island in Kagoshima Prefecture, which was a popular spot for viewing the solar eclipse, after she was found to be riding a powered bicycle that required registration.

Rumors abound, however, that drugs may be involved, with Sawajiri and Takashiro attending an event on Amami Oshima which Noriko Sakai, 38, also attended. Takashiro has since written on his blog that they have never met Sakai nor her husband.

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Cliffy at 10:35 PM JST - 29th September

Oh! Space Battleship Yamato. I used to watch that Anime when I was a little kid. Now, they are making a live movie? I think she could fit as all female characters in that series are anorexic.
mnemosyne23 at 10:45 PM JST - 29th September

head tilt I don't know the first thing about this actress, but she's trying to make a comeback at 23? Wow.

Reading some of the comments it sounds like she's had a bit of a checkered history in the spotlight, but given her youth I'm wondering if it's less that she's always been a brat and more that she's fallen into the same celebrity trap that so many young stars encounter. Namely, they're thrust into the limelight, everything's aces and candy, then the bloom starts to come off the rose and they find themselves fighting to stay afloat. It happened to Britney. It happened to Lindsay (and hasn't particularly STOPPED happening for her). Just because Sawajiri is Japanese doesn't mean the same thing couldn't happen to her, nor to all the other "pretty young things" (male and female) who hitch a ride on the "tarento" wagon in Japan.

Also, I think it's pretty ridiculous that rumors of drug use "abound" just because she and her husband attended a party that was ALSO attended by Noriko Sakai. SHOCK. Give me a break, people. If drugs are involved, then make the case with something other than "She was in the same place as so-and-so!" Last I heard, you don't catch drug addiction like the flu, just from being in someone's vicinity. Geez.
tokyotom at 11:38 PM JST - 29th September

i thought she looked hot when she pouted
bobbafett at 11:57 PM JST - 29th September

the original story says that they made the space ship out of the wreck of the one rusting in the ocean.

LMAO
Osakadaz at 09:10 AM JST - 30th September

yeah Kimutaku and his wife were also at the Amami eclipse event and are inseperable from the Sakais,whereas Sawajiri probably has no connection with them.Guilt by association but probably with fairly decent grounds. Sawajiri's mum is French Berber/Algerian.
SebastianFlyte at 12:18 PM JST - 30th September

What a load of useless babble.
Feekalmatter at 09:43 PM JST - 30th September

I think everyone who has read this article (including myself) should seriously consider what else they could have done with the minute it took.
bdiego at 03:41 AM JST - 1st October

Wow, of the lowest things to do..riding a powered bicycle without registration!! That's like ten times worse than using drugs or being naked in Roppongi park right? Right?
nightvision at 09:09 PM JST - 1st October

I pity this girl. All because of PMS.
bdiego at 10:12 AM JST - 2nd October

Wow, walk into the same building as Noriko Sakai and you get accused of using drugs! That's rumor for you.
seggahme at 02:15 AM JST - 5th October

Erika is one of the most talented and beautiful j-actresses i know. Stardust - is just one from the very long talent agencies. Erika's husbund is himself enough powered person in showbiz. so i don't much worry of this accident. maybe, Erika herself wanted to break her contract.
unrested at 09:42 AM JST - 5th October

when she threw that fit it was ridiculious. i never completely understood, but she seriously acted like one of my kindergartners who doesnt get there way. she pouted the whole interview, almost refused to answer questions, then bawled at the end.
yuki0426 at 01:09 PM JST - 16th October

I like her as a japanese actress, so it is pity that I hear this news.
riverwalk at 12:46 AM JST - 29th October

I wonder why she don't learn by experience of the past. I don't know she is on drugs or not. But watching news like this,everyone can't help doubting her.
zMeina at 03:41 PM JST - 29th October

I think if Erika Sawajili not have something doutful,she must setting a press interview and explain to they about this dismissal. However,taking an active part in the world at this occasion is also good.