Jimmy Page on Erika

Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page has been in Tokyo to promote the bands new release "Mothership" on Monday, Jan. 28, 2008. Erika once said that Led Zeppelin influenced her the most and even went to London to for their reunion concert.

During the press conference they came to the topic about their younger generation of fans. "Could you please comment on one of your fans, the 21year old Sawajiri Erika," he suddenly has been asked. "Unfortunately I don't know her," Jimmy replied in English, however, the translator at the event cleverly translated this answer into Erika's infamous catchphrase "Betsu ni..." This obviously triggered a lot of laughters among the other reporters.

Jimmy himself has been rather surprised about the reaction. "I wonder if maybe I should have met her beforehand. Supposing that she is a musician, please tell her to hold on to what she wishes for."

Just for your interest, there are no plans of Erika coming to Japan to meet Jimmy.

A small note for Led Zeppelin fans who already heard it anyway. Jimmy said that he is ready to take the band out on a world tour, but it won't happen anytime soon, because the singer has other plans at the moment.

Written by HPriest

Vote for Erika on Yahoo! 2007 Music Awards

ERIKA has been nominated for best photo and best new artist on Yahoo! 2007 Music Awards!
Click here to get to best photo, and here to get to best new artist.

To vote, find ERIKA on the list of nominees, select the circle button underneath her, and click the button to submit your vote. This is what the button looks like:

ERIKA is currently in fifth place for the best photo, and fourth place for best new artist. Please show your support for Erika and vote for her!

ETA: ERIKA has gone from fourth place to third in best new artist, and from under 100 votes to about 600 in only one day!

Destination Nowhere Week 8 Sales

Erika dropped to #140 in the 8th week of release with Destination Nowhere. Sales dropped to just 443 copies this week. That brings the total amount of copies sold to 43,209 copies sold. It looks like Erika will drop out of the charts completely by next week.

140　94　***,443　*,*43,209　*8　ERIKA 「Destination Nowhere」
094　70　***,617　*,*42,766　*7　ERIKA 「Destination Nowhere」
070　39　**2,369　*,*42,149　*6　ERIKA 「Destination Nowhere」
039　32　**2,152　*,*39,780　*4　ERIKA 「Destination Nowhere」
032　22　**3,842　*,*37,628　*3　ERIKA 「Destination Nowhere」
022　07　**7,162　*,*33,786　*2　ERIKA 「Destination Nowhere」
007　00　*26,624　*,*26,624　*1　ERIKA 「Destination Nowhere」

No Blue Ribbon for Erika

Erika didn't win at the 50th Blue Ribbon Awards.

The award for "Best Actress," the category Erika got nominated for, went to Aso Kumiko for her role in "Yunagi no Machi, Sakura no Kuni." The movie "Kisaragi" won "Best Film" while Suo Masayuki got "Best Director" for "Soredemo Boku wa Yattenai." The main role of that movie, Kase Ryo also won "Best Actor." Aragaki Yui got the "Best Newcomer" award.

For the other winners, check out the Sanspo article here:
http://www.sanspo.com/geino/top/gt200801/gt2008012315.html

Written by HPriest

Kanebo COFFRET D'OR Update

The Kanebo page for COFFRET D'OR has been updated once again with Erika's interview for the product. You can visit the page and read the interview here.

http://www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/coffretdor/interview/sawajiri.html

Destination Nowhere Week 7 Sales

Erika dropped to #94 in the 7th week of release with Destination Nowhere. She only managed to sell 617 copies this week, which brings the total to 42,766 copies sold. Just like FREE, it looks like Destination Nowhere will drop out of the charts right before reaching a solid number (FREE dropped out of the charts right before making the 120,000 mark).



94　*70　***,617　*,*42,766　*7　ERIKA 「Destination Nowhere」
70　*39　**2,369　*,*42,149　*6　ERIKA 「Destination Nowhere」
39　32　**2,152　*,*39,780　*4　ERIKA 「Destination Nowhere」
32　22　**3,842　*,*37,628　*3　ERIKA 「Destination Nowhere」
22　*7　**7,162　*,*33,786　*2　ERIKA 「Destination Nowhere」
*7　--　*26,624　*,*26,624　*1　ERIKA 「Destination Nowhere」

Erika Away Until Fall?

Erika is going to stay in Great Britain at least until summer, according to authorized people.

"Until the 'Betsu ni..' riot last year, Erika had a full packed schedule for 2008. In February the filming for a new movie with her in the leading role was going to start. The start of the filming had to be delayed for about 1 month in order to find a new person to play the heroine, related people said. A major movie company is attached to this movie and having one of them as your enemy will make it difficult for you as an actress/actor to come back." (Movie company officials)

Gossip about Erika has recently became a hot topic in talk and variety shows. It seems like that not only this movie has been affected, various CMs and a spring dorama were actually also planned for this year. However, now Erika's schedule is blank at least until summer.

"Assuming that Erika's office doesn't want to get smashed, they probably are eager to get her in a dorama or movie for fall, but with Erika's current image the chances to get casted are not really high. At least until summer her office won't have anything to do." (TV Officials)

Maybe she actually desires retirement and marriage?

Written by HPriest

Erika in JUNON Feb 2008 Scans

COFFRET D'OR Promo

1166×1600px
Very large COFFRET D'OR Promo shot thanks to 小虫。at E.S.C.

Videos

I have spent quite a while uploading many Erika videos to Dailymotion. I have uploaded just about every single CM Erika has done (aside from a few), and the making-of that is available, interviews for the CM, short clips of movie premieres, events, subtitled interviews, and more.

Interviews:

Domoto Kyoudai (English Subtitles)

• September 23, 2007 (Part 01)
• September 23, 2007 (Part 02)
• September 23, 2007 (Part 03)
• September 23, 2007 (Part 04)
• September 23, 2007 (Part 05)

Other

• CodeNEO (October 2007)
  

Commercials:

Sony Music:

• K - Beyond the Sea
  
• Kaoru Amane - タイヨウのうた (Taiyou no Uta, Song of the Sun)
• ERIKA- Debut
• ERIKA - FREE (01)
• ERIKA - FREE (02)
  

Music.JP:

• FREE
• FANTASY
• Destination Nowhere

There is also a Music.JP CM featuring Kaoru Amane's Taiyou no Uta (タイヨウのうた). I will upload that clip a bit later.

Subaru:

• Stella/R2 (FREE)
• Stella/R2 CM (Making of)
• Stella/R2 (Interview)

Erika's contract with Subaru was terminated after the Closed Note incident on September 29, 2007.

Kanebo:

• SALA (01)
• SALA (02)
• SALA (03)
• SALA (04)
• SALA (05)
• SALA (06)
• SALA (07)
• SALA (08)
  
• COFFRET D'OR (01)
• COFFRET D'OR (02)

If you are interested in any of the songs that are used in the SALA advertisements, they released a compilation CD with all of the songs used on the commercials. You can visit the special page for the CD release here: SALA FABRIQUE.

Pepsi:

• Nex (01) Tomodachi
• Nex (01) Tomodachi (Making of)
• Nex (02) Kocchi
  
• Nex (02) Kocchi (Making of)
• Nex (03) Natsu
  
• Nex (03) Natsu (Making of)
  
• Nex (04) Aki
  
• Nex (05) Christmas
  
• Nex (05) Christmas (Making of)

Meiji:

• Xylish Show (01)
• Xylish Show (02)
• Xylish Show (03)
• Xylish Show (04)
• Xylish Show (05)
• Xylish Show (06)
• Xylish Show (07)
• Xylish Show (08)
• Xylish Show (09)
• Xylish Show (10)
• Chocolate Christmas
• Chocolate Valentines
• Fran Aromatier (01)
• Fran Aromatier (02)
• Fran Aromatier (Making of / Interview)

Sony:

• Ericsson W51S
• Ericsson W51S (Making of)
• Ericsson W51S (Interview)
  
• Ericsson W52S
• Ericsson W52S (Making of)
• Ericsson W52S (Interview 01)
• Ericsson W52S (Interview 02)
  
• Ericsson W53S
• Ericsson W53S (Making of)
• Ericsson W53S (Interview)

For the W52S CM Erika had to train to learn kung-fu! She had learned some of her moves from a kung-fu teacher, but still found it to be very difficult, but shooting the CM took a very short time. She enjoyed the kung-fu it and said she would like to continue. Shooting the W53S CM took a few days to complete. Erika had to dress up in 100 different outfits, each one matching each phone design! She gladly gave up one of her vacation days to work on the CM.

Yamahisa:

• Amenity (01)
• Amenity (02)
• Amenity (03)
• Amenity (04)
• Cook Nuevo (01)
• Cook Nuevo (02)
• Yulax (01)
• Yulax (02)
  

Misc:

• NTT DoCoMo Flet's Phone
• NFS CM
• Manee no Hera
• K - Beyond the Sea
• Ehime Mikan

Music Videos/Live: Being added.

2006:

• タイヨウのうた (Taiyou no Uta, Song of the Sun)
• タイヨウのうた (Drama Live)
• タイヨウのうた (CDTV Live, )
• Stay with me (Drama Live)

2007:

• FREE
• FREE (Making of)
  
• FANTASY
• Destination Nowhere
• Destination Nowhere (Making of)
• Destination Nowhere (CDTV Live, 12.08.07 )

Photoshoots:

ERIKA2007:

• Paris
• Mont St. Michel
• Rennes
• Eze Village
• Tokyo
• Teaser

These are clips from the DVD that came with the limited edition version of Erika's third photobook, ERIKA2007. It was released on August 29, 2007. The limited edition version was already sold out in many places within a few days. Erika had complete control over most of the production with this photobook/DVD. This was also Erika's first time being able to do a photobook with things she wanted to do. She chose everything from the locations, clothing, and overall photobook design.


Other Clips:

• Yamada Takayuki Plays Prank on Erika
• Erika at Fountain Pen Event
• Erika Plays Monopoly
• Erika's Cheerleading Training
• Erika Going Overseas (December 2006)
• Erika at Led Zeppelin Concert (December 2007)
  
• Erika Going Overseas (January 2008)
• Taiyou no Uta (Outtake)
• Erika at Motion Picture Co. (April 2008)
  

Quite a few of the clips, not commercials, came from hydetetsu (who is amazing!) at ESN. If you want to download some ofthem, they are in the download section at ESN forums.
If you would like for me to upload any of the commercials or making-of commercials to Sendspace, Megaupload, Yousendit, or any other site, please comment.

This is only part one of the videos. I will have another post in a few days with the rest of my videos.

Erika Goes to London Against Stardust's Wishes?

Sawajiri Erika, 21, creates trouble again? Currently, Erika is in England with her sweetheart Takashiro Tsuyoshi, 43. Apparently Stardust seems to have a problem with Erika going to England. At the beginning of this year, Sawajiri Erika supposedly handed in an application to take time off and go to England, but the application was dismissed by Stardust. When asked whether or not Erika will still be appearing during 2008, Stardust said nothing about it. So in the end what will be the outcome of this "fight"?
From EWN

Destination Nowhere Week 6 Sales

Destination Nowhere has dropped from position #39 to #70 this week on Oricon's weekly single chart. It sold only 2,369 copies, bringing the total to 42,149 copies sold. It also ranked at #18 in Oricon's monthly single charts for the month of December. Hopefully in coming weeks this single will be able to make it to at least 45,000 copies sold. Reaching the same amount of copies FREE has sold will be impossible. Destination Nowhere will probably not even be able to sell as much as FREE in the first week.


70　*39　**2,369　*,*42,149　*6　ERIKA 「Destination Nowhere」
39　32　**2,152　*,*39,780　*4　ERIKA 「Destination Nowhere」
32　22　**3,842　*,*37,628　*3　ERIKA 「Destination Nowhere」
22　*7　**7,162　*,*33,786　*2　ERIKA 「Destination Nowhere」
*7　--　*26,624　*,*26,624　*1　ERIKA 「Destination Nowhere」

Oricon: who do you want as a receptionist?

A recent popularity survey by Oricon asked 1,200 people, "Which celebrity would lift your spirits if she were a receptionist at your company?"

Rising star Yui Aragaki was the #1 choice across all surveyed age groups and was particularly popular among men. Another young actress, Masami Nagasawa, ranked 2nd, followed by Yuri Ebihara and Misaki Ito.

Comedienne Masami Hisamoto tied for 5th with Aya Ueto. Becky, who was voted #1 by women, ranked only 7th overall. Kanako Yanagihara was #8, while Nanako Matsushima and Erika Sawajiri tied for #9.

Erika's COFFRET D'OR CM

Here is the COFFRET D'OR CM, with only Erika in it.

Closed Note Yearly Rankings

Erika's latest movie Closed Note came in at #51 on the yearly box office charts for Japan. The movie (released on September 29, 2007) made about $7,524,929USD. The DVD release of the movie will be on March 28, 2008. It will come in 2DVD Special Edition and 1DVD Standard Edition.

[Video] Erika at Airport (01.04.08)

Here is a video of Erika at the Tokyo Narita International Airport the other day:

You can also download the video here. (.divx file)

Sawajiri Starts 2008 With a Smile on Her Face

Actress Erika Sawajiri (21) was seen at Tokyo International Aiport today (January 4, 2008) with her boyfriend, hyper media creator Tsuyoshi Takashiro (43) heading to London for a vacation. She arrived wearing a long black jacket, a long skirt, holding a camera. She started out shaking fans with many of her fans and reporters, all with a big smile. This wiped out much of the ill-humor from last September's Closed Note premiere. They started to refer to her as the "New Erika", and that they are impressed with how much she's matured since then. When Erika appeared in the second terminal, she was given a big stuffed bear. Reporters tried asking her questions about her future plans, but all she did was smile and continue on her way.

Written by Chris @ FANTASY - Please credit

Erika Going to London (01.04.08)

Erika's Best Actress Nomination

Today the Tokyo Movie Reporter published the list of the 70 nominations for the Blue Ribbon Award. Sawajiri Erika has been nominated as "Best Actress" for her role in "Closed Note." Takeuchi Yuuko, from the same movie, has been nominated as well. The complete list of nominations for "Best Actress" would be Asou Kumiko, Uchida Yuki, Satou Eriko, Sawajiri Erika and Takeuchi Yuuko.

For all nominations, go to (Japanese) http://www.asahi.com/culture/nikkan/NIK200801040006.html

Written by HPriest