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 the Chibi 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.
The drama is part of the series based on the famous manga “The Black Report,” which has continued to appear in the Weekly Shincho for over 40 years. This third episode continues the series, which started with two 50-minute episodes broadcast last June and December. In each episode of this realistic human drama, head editor Sanada Atsuhito , played by Ishiguro, pairs up with a female author of great individuality to pursue the truth while covering a scandal.
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.
Comments from Yahoo! Japan:
ルーキー（cpz…）さん:
Is she mocking the audience? I’m disgusted by the indulgent treatment of a criminal by the entertainment world.
スケキヨ（saw…）さん:
I’m opposed to the comeback of a criminal! If the world of show business is this soft on her, there must be tons of assholes involved in drugs!
ｶﾝﾄﾘｰｸﾗﾌﾞ（mas…）さん:
From the beginning in the entertainment world it’s been possible to make a social comeback even with a criminal record, but an ordinary person can’t easily return to society. The difference is too big.
表示名を取得できませんでした（hqi…）:
The entertainment world is too indulgent.
おってぃん（ott…）さん:
The most evil-minded woman in Japan
まくろ（ma_…）さん:
That’s the side of it she’s using, but first I’m shocked at this woman’s nerve to appear in public.
堕天使（pjd…）さん:
How is Sakai Noriko’s image taking a blow? This is a person that deserted her child and fled in order to keep taking stimulants. I guess it can’t be helped that the entertainment world is so soft on her, huh?
きょん（day…）さん:
You don’t need to appear in the media. Why don’t you return to your nursing job?
ＲＴＫＧＨＮＵＯＣＩＡ（k33…）さん:
If she’s careful, she’ll take advantage of the confusion of the moment to make a comeback.
ゴミ箱いき（kus…）さん:
Why is it so easy to make a comeback in the entertainment world? There might be fans who are truly happy to see her atoning for her crime and returning, but in normal society returning to the same job would be impossible.
mf8（mf8…）さん:
A criminal appears in a TV drama after ignoring the police’s request to turn herself in, disappearing for a week, covering up her body’s reaction to the stimulants, plotting to destroy the evidence, and escaping jail time.
表示名を取得できませんでした（ndw…）:
The woman who’s made enemies of every nursing practitioners in the entire country
ぷぅさん（kum…）さん:
She should go work in China. Japan doesn’t need an entertainment world that’s soft on criminals.
ルナ（m10…）さん:
First of all, it’s because her brother’s in the yakuza… TV is impossible!
オン（on_…）さん:
…I think we should thoroughly investigate the background of this drama’s staff members.
シゲ（one…）さん:
If she were an ordinary person recovering her job would be impossible.
hory（hor…）さん:
She was probably shaking from quitting drugs.
よけろ！ナッパ!!（tor…）さん:
She’s too dark.
萌ピー（sig…）さん:
The world of show business lets old bald gay guys with criminal records participate （；￣ェ￣） It’s no wonder that ‘Druggy-P’ [a play on Sakai’s nickname ‘Nori-P’] is making a comeback. (￣Д￣)ﾉ
