FANTASY :: an Erika Sawajiri fansite

Oricon: Most Dramatic Life

2009-03-25T18:04:00.001-04:00

Oricon asked about 1,200 men and women which celebrity has the "most dramatic way of life". Actress Sawajiri Erika ranked first. She's someone who gained a lot of attention with her uncontrolled words and is probably the most appropriate person for the 1st place.

Unforgettable here behavior at the stage greeting with her several dull answers like "Not really.." which became a major buzzword and not to mention her marriage in 2008 that had been all over the press. It's not a big surprise that she got most the votes, but let's look at some of the comments from the voters. "I've voted for her, because she gets constantly observed by reporters, had this huge bombshell announcement, and she got married." A teenage girl from Osaka explained. "None of us ordinary people will ever able to live as freely as she does." Another teenage girl from Toyama commented. Some opinions like of this man (from Aichi, in his twenties) even go one step further, saying that, "You could be able to make her life into a movie."

On 2nd place comes Matsuda Seiko, an idol from the 80's who already went through two divorces in her life and constantly made headlines with her work and her private life. "She keeps on shining and standing at the foremost front despite all her scandals." Most of the comments said something similar to that one, but there also aren't just a few women who look up to her way of life, especially her love life.

The 3rd place goes to famous director, actor, comedian, host, writer, painter... Kitano Takeshi. "This man simply is a genius and he really crept up from the bottom." - "He's interesting, he's funny, he's cool, he's uncontrollable and he does whatever he wants. In short, he's an amazing person." Comments such as those two above always pile up when it comes to this man, not only in Japan. He used the boom of comedians to make it all the way to the top and and later became a worldwide acclaimed movie director. Kitano also had many drastic events in his life such as his severe motorcycle accident. It's hard to find someone who doesn't respect this man.

Here now the top 05:

1. Sawajiri Erika (22) - Actress and singer
2. Matsuda Seiko (47) - Singer and actress
3. Kitano Takeshi (62) - Personality, director, actor, writer, ...
4. Tamura Hiroshi (29) - Comedian
5. Amuro Namie (31) - Singer

Cr. http://jyoyu.blogspot.com

Comeback in August?

2009-05-28T18:01:00.001-04:00

The last thing we heard from Erika is that she went to Spain for her honeymoon, to study graphic design and to further improve her English skills all in one go. The plan was to make a comeback later this year and now some more details regarding that move has come to light.

"It's been more than 1 and a half years since all the riots she caused. She's been separated from work and from her fans for such a long time, so it seemed like that she didn't get offers for roles anymore. However, whenever there have been news about her coming back to Japan, her agency literally got flooded with requests for movies and doramas. The marriage with Takashiro was another smash in the face for the agency, but as long as there is work they can easily forget about such things. Now they've actually persuaded Sawajiri to return to Japan before the Summer." An insider revealed.

Erika was actually supposed to make her comeback right after her teary apology on TV after the Betsu ni... incident, but she disregarded that plan and traveled to London. Her marriage too, she never kept her agency in the loop. These events caused rumors like that her agency would deprive her of role offers in return, but now they unexpectedly seem to have changed their mood towards Erika and even decided to make a comeback with a movie completely produced by Stardust themselves.

"Since this year, Sawajiri's agency Stardust Promotions started not only to make but also to distribute movies by themselves. The first movie they distributed was "Yomei" in February. There is a lot of money to earn by distributing a movie by yourself and so it's just normal that they are seeking for a very big hit." A movie writer explained.

"There have actually also been rumors about Sawajiri getting the role in 'Yomei' long before it got released. Not many theaters played the movie when it got released in February, but a lot of them stated that it would have certainly been a hit with Sawajiri in the starring role and they definitely would have put it in their programs."

It's not that Erika and Takashiro really have to worry about their income, but a comeback in August could become reality since the timing seems to be right.

Credits to www.erika-sawajiri.net
Source: Cyzo

Gendai's take on the "retirement" theories

2008-12-23T14:17:00.001-05:00

Will Sawajiri Erika really just fade away like that? Lately there have been a lot of "retirement theories."

"The basis of this theory is that plans to play the leading role in next season's "Monday-9pm-dorama" on Fuji TV got suddenly scrapped. There have also been offers for doramas from NTV, but those got canceled on Erika's side as well, raising the discussions about a possible retirement."

There have also been rumors about them staying in London for New Year's holiday (note: her mother already said that they will come back before that, so that rumor was false!) and lately there are reports about a possible marriage with her lover Takashiro Tsuyoshi in January next year. However, it's highly unlikely that Sawajiri is going to disappear just like that.

As a matter of fact, she's going to come back by the beginning of next year. She'll renewal her CM contracts and talk with her agency about their future plans.

"During her 'suspension' there have been many offers to her office about roles in movies and doramas. However, her desire to marry seems to be very strong and so it's difficult to persuade her into accepting those offers. Her office has basically "became the horse instead of the commander." On the other hand it's said that Takashiro appealed to her the other day and suggested her to make a comeback. He's been in the business for a while and understands the circumstances of her office more than she does. It seems that they have come to an agreement to postpone the marriage for a little while."

With Takashiro as her "guardian" persuading her, Erika can't help but to accept some of the offers. A "January-Comeback" might be out of the question, but the more it's likely to see her in a dorama in April.

Credit: Gendai + ESN

Wedding Bells for Sawajiri!

2008-12-21T22:22:00.002-05:00

Yesterday it has been announced that actress Sawajiri Erika and multi-creator Takashiro Tsuyoshi are going to marry in January 2009. The couple has been together since September last year and since 2008 they have been living together in London. They often came back to Japan due to Takashiro's work during the year. Now there's information that their next trip home will be before the end of the year and while they are here, they are said to officially announce their marriage.

Their stay in London was caused by Erika's scandal in 2007, after which she gradually lost all her contracts for roles in movies/dramas and almost every contract as image character for all kind of different products. Erika also used the opportunity to improve her English by studying at a language school and to have some relaxing time together with Takashiro.

The marriage is pretty much a fact, but from people close to them there's also information about the marriage already going to happen in January next year. She's supposed to announce it once they are back home. Details about the marriage are still unknown, but it has been already made clear that she's not pregnant.

Her agency is not yet confirming the reports, "We can't tell you anything regarding this matter until we've heard a comment from her herself about the current state of affairs once she returned back to Japan." Meanwhile her mother in Tokyo has already been asked about the marriage as well. "I can't tell you anything, except for that they'll come back by the end of the year. I can't wait to see her." About Takashiro she says the following, "He's a very nice person. My daughter is very important to him." She also quotes her of having said, that "she'd like to get married where she's been born and raised."　This could vaguely mean that the marriage is going to happen in Japan.

During a live event Koda Kumi also already commented on Erika's marriage plans. "My deepest congratulations. I'm wishing them all the best." Further we have producer, TV Star and close friend of Takashiro, Terry Ito comment on the matter. "Isn't that a nice story? If I had to guess, then I think that Sawajiri fell in love with him first. You know, she lost her father at an early age and Takashiro might have a fatherly side to him." Comedian Katou Kouji then adds, "Would they invite you (Terry Itou) to their marriage? I don't think so. You are friends, but you aren't that close." Terry Itou just returned back to his function as main commentator in "Sukkiri!!" with Katou Kouji after his bone fracture on the 16th.

Since the scandal she still had commercials here and there and various photo shootings for magazines. By summer next year she's also predicted to start working as an actress again.

Credits to www.erika-sawajiri.net

Erika returning to Japan

2008-08-21T17:57:00.006-04:00

Erika is back in Japan once again to celebrate her boyfriend's birthday. She was followed by press again and ignored all questions as usual.

Here's a small picture from his blog with Erika in it.

http://blog.honeyee.com/ttakashiro/

Erika's New Sala CM

2008-07-19T01:15:00.002-04:00

Erika's Comeback Confirmed?

2008-06-26T04:53:00.000-04:00

According to a rumor, Stardust Promotion, Erika's agency, just opened a new division- Stardust Pictures, which will be primarily making movies. Erika's comeback is now apparently guaranteed because she has been chosen to star in the first film from the production company. A movie called "Life Expectancy", alongside Takeuchi Yuko, Nakatani Miki, Shibasaki Kou, and Takako Tokiwa.

Erika's Comeback?

2008-06-11T13:35:00.000-04:00

It's a fact that actress Sawajiri Erika, who went to Great Britain has frequently been coming back to her home country, though next to commercials and work for monthly magazines, she has actually steadily been preparing to hasten a real comeback.

"Once her tourist visa expires, it will only be a matter of time when the media is going to ask her office 'When will she come back?', but Erika has already been back in May for things like commercials and features in monthly magazines," a person from the office explains.

Erika got a lot of criticism from various kind of sides for her arrogant attitude in the "Betsu ni.." incident in October last year. This year she's been going to Great Britain with her 22 years older lover Takashiro Tsuyoshi, going as far as renting an apartment in London, therefore raising the question whether that's gonna be her exile from the world of show business for real now.

"In late March she returned home for a CM, once finished she went back to London again. It's said that if this CM was canceled, she would have gotten the sack from her office," a public reporter tells us.

However, the circumstances seem to be quite different according to authorized people.

"Erika got suspended from work for one year. In the meantime she studied in Great Britain. Her office and Takashiro supported her through the time of antagonism. Thanks to that she's been more grown up each time she came back here," are the inside informations from a movie company authorized person.

It's said that she stopped receiving offers after the bashing, but in truth she got flooded with requests. "A few movies have already been nominated for her comeback," says an authorized person from a major office.

Let us all believe that this is true and that Erika is soon going to work on a new movie.

From HPriest@ESN

Erika in VoCE July 2008 Scans

2008-06-07T13:55:00.002-04:00

FANTASY is One Year Old

2008-06-04T04:00:00.003-04:00

This isn't news, but I thought I'd post about it anyway.
It has been exactly one year since I first started updating this Erika fansite. The time has gone by so quickly! Thank you to all of Erika's fans and the everyone who visits this site and uses me as a resource for all of your Erika news.~

New COFFRET D'OR CM

2008-06-02T10:10:00.002-04:00

Download

Erika and Takashiro Split?

2008-05-30T18:40:00.007-04:00

Recent rumors say that Erika Sawajiri is to split from her boyfriend Tsuyoshi Takashiro. Before this it was reported that she and her boyfriend together were temporarily living in London and almost planning to get married, but now, they are suddenly going to separate. There is a surprising reason: Takashiro is in debt.

According to some in entertainment circles, Takashiro knows Erika likes brand-name products, and in London he bought her lots of high-end items as a gift for her birthday, which cost large sums of money. Takashiro has already spent about 20-30 million yen on her.

Takashiro has spent too much on Erika. We cannot say that it is an aid communication between them, but it does show that they were not meant to be together if they can break up for lack of money. Nevertheless, as the message of separation spreads, the call for Erika’s return becomes louder and louder!

VoCE July 2008 Cover

2008-05-19T14:23:00.004-04:00

Erika in VoCE July 2008 (Preview)

2008-05-11T15:10:00.002-04:00

The issue goes on sale May 23, 2008.

http://i-voce.boxerblog.com/shitabataraki/

Nikkei Ent. - Best Looking Celebrities

2008-05-08T01:40:00.003-04:00

Nikkei Entertainment has done another poll, this time surveying 3000 people ages 10-59 to find out which celebs they think outshine the rest in the looks department.

Kimura Takuya
Fukuyama Masaharu
Itou Misaki
Darvish Yu
Fujiwara Norika
Okada Jun'ichi
Hayami Mokomichi
Oguri Shun
Ebihara Yui
Koyuki
Yonekura Ryoko
Tamaki Hiroshi
Matsushima Nanako
Yamashita Tomohisa
Mizuki Arisa
Aragaki Yui
Gackt
Sawajiri Erika
Chibana Kurara
Leah Dizon
Takizawa Hideaki
Odagiri Joe
Ikuta Toma
Takenouchi Yutaka
Oshikiri Moe
Akanishi Jin
Shibasaki Kou
Takeuchi Yuko
Nagasawa Masami
Koike Teppei

It's nice that Erika still makes it into these rankings even after all of the bad press she has received, and her long absence from the spotlight.
From yunareira at esn

COFFRET D'OR Website Update

2008-05-07T20:48:00.002-04:00

The COFFRET D'OR hompage has been updated with the new images for the campaign.

http://www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/coffretdor/index.html

Erika for Kanebo's COFFRET D'OR

2008-05-02T15:23:00.003-04:00

From Rabbitamane

Erika to Return to Japan?

2008-05-07T16:48:00.002-04:00

A new rumor is going around that Erika will return to Japan once again sometime in June this year. Apparently she and her boyfriend Tsuyoshi Takashiro will be there to support Hidetoshi Nakata, a former football player (and a good friend of Takashiro) in his first friendly match since retirement.
If Erika does come back, she will also meet with workers at Stardust Promotion to come to an agreement about her future work plans, if any.
From Rabbitamane

Videos

2008-01-12T11:19:00.002-05:00

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)

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:

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:

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

Kanebo:

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:

Meiji:

Sony:

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:

Misc:

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:

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:

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.

A silent departure, Erika back in London

2008-04-14T14:50:00.008-04:00

The work that had to be done is done and Erika flew back to London. Once again departing from Narita Airport, Erika and Tsuyoshi left Japan at 11:30 in the morning. It has been 15 days since they came back to Japan and Erika's welcome-back message 'Oh, shit!'
It looks like they reserved a first class lounge in an 'Virgin Atlantic' airplane. It didn't take long until the press noticed the couple and so they both hurried to check in. Erika wore a long white coat and her beloved huge sunglasses. Tsuyoshi had a white coat as well, making the couple's look perfect.

She has been asked how long they will stay in London this time. "Please, just a short note," but Erika's facial expression didn't change at all. Later when they were boarding the plane, they've tried it again, but this time in English. "How long will you stay in London?" Although she might have understood that already, she probably hasn't been in the mood to answer. All in all they didn't answer any of the questions.

As expected her stay didn't last very long, but during those 15 days she has been able to shoot a CM and to celebrate her 22nd birthday. This time the couple is expected to stay abroad for a longer time. Erika also will remain her studies at a language school there to increase her English skills.

Translated by HPriest@ESN

VoCE July 2008 Cover

2008-04-24T10:47:00.002-04:00

Erika will be on the cover of VoCE magazine's July 2008 issue. The issue will be published on May 23, 2008.

http://i-voce.boxerblog.com/contents/2008/04/index.html

Discography

2007-06-01T00:00:00.011-04:00

Taiyou no Uta Kaoru Amane
Released 2006.08.30
Copies Sold 488,604 / #1
Legal Downloads 1,000,000+
Tracklisting
01 Taiyou no Uta
02 Stay with me
03 Wish (Original Instrumental)
Chart Run 21+ Weeks
Released in CD Only, and Limited CD+DVD editions.

FREE Debut Single
Released 2007.07.04
Copies Sold 119,817 / #1
Legal Downloads 200,000+
Tracklisting
01 FREE
02 FANTASY
03 Time to go home
04 FREE (Instrumental)
Chart Run 14+ Weeks
Released in CD Only, and Limited CD+DVD editions.

Destination Nowhere Second Single
Released 2007.11.28
Copies Sold 43,209 / #7
Legal Downloads 100,000+
Tracklisting
01 Destination Nowhere
02 ESCAPE
03 FREE (overrocket101007 mix)
04 Destination Nowhere (Instrumental)
Chart Run 8+ Weeks
Released in CD Only, and Limited CD+DVD editions.

Filmography

2007-06-01T22:35:00.006-04:00

Movies

Mondai no Nai Watashitachi (2002)
PACCHIGI! (2005)
Ashurajo no Hitomi (2005)
Shinobi (2005)
Otoshimono (2006)
Mamiya Kyoudai (2006)
Sugar & Spice (2006)
Tegami (2006)
Tenshi no Tamago (2006)
Closed Note (2007)

Drama

North Point - Friends (2003)
Hotman (2003)
Hitonatsu no Papa e (2003)
Sakura Sakumade (2004)
Cheers ~ Tenkou e no Ouenka (2004)
Mumei (2004)
Ai Kurushii (2005)
1 Litre no Namida (2005)
Taiyou no Uta (2006)

COFFRET D'OR Update

2008-04-24T10:43:00.003-04:00

Two new (low quality) images of Erika in the new Kanebo COFFRET D'OR campaign ads have been released. The images will be used for the summer campaign and will begin on June 16, 2008.

Erika in London

2008-04-19T04:41:00.004-04:00

Pictures of Erika in London have come out! It's sad that she can't even go to London without Japanese reporters following her around. She also seems to be smoking in the first picture...

From ESC