Erika Sawajiri’s “Behind the Scenes of Her Blitz Return” as Her Suspension of Execution Dates Expire in February.

She said, “Of course not. I mean, you’ve got to be kidding me.”

In November ’19, Erika Sawajiri, 36, was arrested on suspicion of possessing the synthetic drug MDMA and other drugs. At her first trial, she stated that she had no plans to return to acting. She declared her de facto retirement and has been out of the public eye for the past three years.

In the midst of all this, Avex Chairman Katsuto Matsuura (58), on his YouTube channel, categorically denied the “Erika Sawajiri working at a Roppongi lounge” theory that circulated in November 2010, as stated at the beginning of this report. Furthermore, Matsuura suggested that he is preparing for Sawajiri’s return to the entertainment industry, and expressed his anger.

He said, “When we are trying to do our best for Sawajiri, these stupid rumors are going to be spread. It’s upsetting.”

Another way” to attack the surprise

Avex did not abandon Sawajiri after the incident. It is said that they have taken care of her life, including preparing an apartment for her to escape from the mass media. All of this was done in anticipation of her return.

Sawajiri also suspended her career in 2009 when she got married to a man who was a creator. At that time, she made a shocking comeback by appearing nude in the “Helter Skelter” movie in ’12, which made a splash. Since Chairman Matsuura is a man of his word, I am sure he will not use the same method as last time. I am sure he will take us by surprise this time as well,” said a source at an entertainment agency.

What exactly is “another method”? An acquaintance who knows Sawajiri’s recent moves says, “I wonder if she will return as a singer.

I think she will return as a singer. In fact, she went to Okinawa and other places in the latter half of 2010. It is typical of her to move around actively even while on probation (laughs). She is probably filming a music video or something.

There are other reasons for the “Erika Sawajiri’s return as a singer” theory.

Her drug conviction is not good for her image, and it is impossible for her to be used in terrestrial TV dramas. In these days of strict compliance, it is difficult to get sponsors. On the other hand, singers have more options. Above all, it would be the specialty of Chairman Matsuura, who produced Ayumi Hamasaki.

Mika Ninagawa (50) is a film director who is close to Sawajiri. Her last film, Helter Skelter (Helter Skelter), was also directed by her. The ending song for Ninagawa’s film will be a return as an unidentified singer, and the scenario could be, “It’s actually Erika Sawajiri who is singing this song! ‘ (A producer at a commercial key station).

Sawajiri has released four CDs in the past. Three of them were released under a different name, “ERIKA,” from “Sawajiri the Actress. The other one was released under the name of her role in a TV drama series.

Erika Sawajiri’s electrifying comeback as a singer. It is a good enough trump card for Avex, which has long since lost its former vigor. Chairman Matsuura has been tight-lipped about Sawajiri’s future since denying the lounge work theory.

In his YouTube live broadcasts, he always answers questions from people who have paid their bills, but he has remained silent about Sawajiri, no matter what I ask him. He would blabber on about his relationship with Ayumi Hamasaki (laughs). Sawajiri’s return must be a very important matter for him.

The suspended sentence will expire in February of this year. The day of “Erika-sama’s” second coming is near.

From the January 20 and 27, 2023 issues of FRIDAY