| Keiko Fuji 藤 圭子 |
|
|---|---|
| Birth name | Junko Abe 阿部 純子 (now Junko Utada 宇多田 純子) |
| Also known as | Keiko Fuji |
| Born | July 5 1951 |
Keiko Fuji (藤 圭子 Fuji Keiko?), real name Junko Utada (宇多田 純子 Utada Junko?) (born Junko Abe (阿部 純子 Abe Junko?) on July 5, 1951 in Iwate Prefecture, Japan), is a Japanese enka singer and actresss well known in Japan. She had success in the 1960s and 1970s with her ballad-type songs. Both her parents were itinerant musical performers. Her mother was a blind shamisen player or "goze." As a child, Fuji sometimes accompanied her parents and sang with them when they were on tour. She is also the mother of one of the currently most popular female singers in Japan, Utada Hikaru, and was the wife of Teruzane Utada, a record producer.
2006 confiscation of cash by the DEA
On March 3, 2006, U.S. DEA officials confiscated more than $400,000 in U.S., Canadian, and Australian currencies from Junko Utada's carry-on luggage at JFK Airport, New York, as she waited to board a flight to Las Vegas. DEA officials allege the cash bore traces of illicit drugs, and sought forfeiture of the funds. During questioning, Junko denied any wrongdoing and said the money came partly from gambling winnings. "A forfeiture complaint filed by federal prosecutors noted that the money — 4,149 $100 bills — was bundled, wrapped in paper, and secured with rubber bands," The Smoking Gun said. "Agents also recovered some Australian and Canadian currency, for a total seizure of $421,489.44, according to the September 25 complaint." Prosecutors seeking her forfeiture of the money alleged that it represents proceeds of drug sales or was intended to be used to buy drugs. But she has filed a "claim of ownership" with the DEA for the funds to retrieve the money.[1] Fuji's office said the money was seized but the amount of money and other details are under study. It also added that the money was not drug-related. Fuji gave an exclusive interview on the Japanese news-variety TV show Sutamen on October 22 in an effort to clear her name. She insisted the money was not drug-related and was for her own use at Las Vegas. In an effort to stress how normal it was for her to be carrying such a large sum of cash, she said she had spent some 500 million yen (4.26 million USD) in first-class air tickets and hotel bills over the previous five years.
References
- ^ Japanese Pop Queen's Mom In Fight With DEA. Hikaru Utada's parent seeks return of $421k in seized "drug money". Retrieved on September 28, 2006.
