Noriko Sakai

Fukuoka born Sakai Noriko initiated her career at age 15 in 1986. Her first single was called Otoko No Ko Ni Naritai ('I Want To Be A Boy') and was issued in February of 1987. Her music was classified as J-pop. She used the Nori-P (later also the name of a character she illustrated and marketed) alias at this time and for the next ten years. In the '90s she enjoyed much success not only as a singer, but also contributing to soundtracks for films and serials in which she also acted. She had been popular outside Japan since 1990. Her appearance in 1993's Hitotsu Yane No Shita serial, which was about orphan siblings, helped her become famous. She maintained the popularity for 1995's Hoshi No Kinka and also sold a million records as she also contributed a single to the soundtrack. She eventually became in-demand in China and South East Asia thanks to her concerts, tours and advertising work. She also began her own business in 1996. She toured most of East and Southeast Asia in 1998 and capped the year off by announcing her marriage to Yuichi Takaso, a pro surfer. She gave birth in the year 1999. She had a comeback following her maternity period in the year 2000. Sadly, her long-time manager committed suicide in his office in that year. She continued acting for the big and the small screen until her arrest on drug charges in 2009. Her husband was arrested on August 2, 2009 and implicated his wife in the ordeal. Under the guise of picking up her ten-year old son she delayed her arrival at the police station, but alongside her son disappeared that day. She dropped off her son with a friend and disappeared, but turned herself in two days later. Her hair would test positive for amphetamines. She received a three-year suspended sentence eventually having posted bail earlier. She was accompanied by a vice-president for Sun Music upon release, but would later be dropped by the agency. Moreover, her clothing line PP Rikorino was removed from stores and commercial sponsors and employers dropped her. Ironically, her music sales saw an uptick. She and her husband divorced in 2010. Sakai did charity work and advertised the hazards of drugs in 2011 and announced a comeback in 2012. She has been making personal appearances at places like pachinko parlours, hand shake events and picking up minor TV roles since. She has signed with Nigun Niiba agency and again touring Japan and East Asia including Hong Kong in 2018. She has also been the subject of new DVDs and compilation CDs.