Erika Sawajiri Makes Bold Appearance at Wrap Party as Her Full Comeback Begins

Overcoming setbacks and fully restarting her career

In late October, with autumn in full swing, Erika Sawajiri (39) stepped briskly out of a karaoke bar in Tokyo.

Wearing a daring miniskirt that showed off her beautiful legs and a deeply slit neckline cut diagonally from her right shoulder, she radiated pure allure. The sharp sound of her pin heels as she sashayed toward her waiting car evoked nothing short of a Japanese Marilyn Monroe. Even a group of foreign tourists—lucky enough to cross paths with “Erika-sama”—did a double-take.

“Earlier that evening, a wrap party for a film starring Sawajiri was held at an Italian restaurant in Shibuya. It’s her second big-screen return following next February’s release of #Kakusan (‘#Spread’), this time a comedy-suspense inspired by French cinema. She plays an investigator who loses her memory.

Maruyama Ryuhei (41) of SUPER EIGHT, who co-stars, was also present. Surrounded by around 30 staff and film crew members, Sawajiri was all smiles. She even joined the second party at a humble karaoke bar,” says an entertainment agency executive.

Last year, she made her comeback after four years with the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire, though it didn’t immediately lead to a full-scale return.

“Tickets for Streetcar sold out immediately. Her vocal power and expressive performance overwhelmed the audience. This year, talks were even underway for her appearance in a terrestrial TV drama, but the project fizzled out. Still, Sawajiri never lost heart—she continued attending regular medical checkups. Her talent, and more importantly her steady, quiet efforts, were recognized,” the executive adds.

Having overcome setbacks and gained newfound depth at 40, hopes are high for the reborn Erika-sama.

From the November 14/21, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”