Sawajiri Erika(沢尻エリカ)

Erika Sawajiri
 
Erika Sawajiri (沢尻エリカ?)

Born April 8, 1986
Nerima, Tokyo, Japan
Other name(s) Kacchan, Aachan


Erika Sawajiri (沢尻エリカ Sawajiri Erika?, born April 8, 1986 in Nerima, Tokyo) is a Japanese actress, model, and musician. Her alias in her music career is Kaoru Amane. She is currently affiliated with Stardust Promotion, and became popular after playing a girl who suffered from an intractable disease called spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD) in the nonfiction drama "1 Litre of Tears".

Profile
Height: 160cm
Blood type: A
Star Sign: Aries
Place of Birth: Nerima, Tokyo, Japan
Talent Agency: Stardust Promotion
Record Label : Sony Music Japan as AMANE KAORU

Biography

Erika was born to a Japanese father and an Algerian-French mother and is the youngest of three brothers and sisters. Her name is derived from an orchids's name, Ericaceae's Erica. Her father owned sixteen racehorses, including the horse, Edonokoban (エドノコバン). Her father died of cancer when she was in her third year at junior high school. Her second eldest brother died in a car accident when she was in her first year at high school. Her mother manages a Mediterranean restaurant now and Erika sometimes helps with it. Erika has been horseback riding since she was a child.

In 1999, Erika passed the Stardust audition after graduating from elementary school. She became part of the idol unit ANGEL EYES and began modeling for junior fashion magazines such as CUTiE and nicola. She later won the grand prize for the 2001 Seikore and became a regular on the BS news program Harajuku Launchers. In 2002, Erika started her career in film as well as extending her modeling career as a gravure idol. Her first film was Mondai no nai Watashitachi.

She also became one of Fuji TV's Visual Queens in 2002. On the NTV variety show THE YORU mo Hit Parade, she became a regular from April till late June, shortly after leaving the program for the CX news program Chou VIP Fortune no Tobira from mid-June till late August. In November, she was on the CBC variety show Bijou Dokyuu and TBS show B-1. She got her big break when she was casted in the TBS TV drama Hotman. Her most notable role was in 1 Litre of Tears in 2005 when she portrayed a girl with the degenerative disease spinocerebellar degeneration.

She decided to enter the entertainment world because she wanted to meet singer Namie Amuro whom she idolizes. Her music career debut was under the name "Kaoru Amane". A name of her character in her current drama, the TV adaptation of A Song to the Sun (Taiyou no Uta). The single went into number 1 in its second and fourth week.