The latest update on the whereabouts of actress/singer Sakai Noriko (38) is that her mobile phone was last spotted in the area of Minobusan in Yamanashi Prefecture. The mountain is a pilgrimage destination for Buddhists and is the burial place of Nichiren, the 13th century monk and founder of one of the biggest Buddhist schools. Sakai’s phone, unreachable since the arrest of her husband Takaso Yuichi (41) on Sunday night, was switched on briefly on Tuesday night. It then became unreachable again, but it’s not known if this was because it was turned off or because it was out of network range. Sakai’s mother-in-law and the president of her management agency formally requested a police search for the star on Tuesday. Meanwhile it was revealed that Sakai was waiting for her husband in their car when he was stopped on a Shibuya street and arrested on the spot for possession of stimulant drugs. She and their 10-year-old son haven’t been seen since. In a related development, it turns out that Takaso’s claims to be a professional surfer were lies. An angry Japan Pro Surfing Association said today that he has never been registered with them even as an amateur. Takaso is believed to have lied about his profession to help business at the store he runs in central Tokyo selling surfing and other sports-related goods.
Earlier stories:
Sakai Noriko Goes Missing (Aug 5, 2009)
Noripi’s Hubby in Latest Drug Arrest (Aug 4, 2009)