Aftermath of the Sakai Noriko Trial

As someone who was molded into a starlet from her mid-teens and has lived her life in the media spotlight, Sakai Noriko (38) will always have to contend with preconceptions. Once considered one of the "purer" idols, the arrest of both her and her husband on drug charges has come as a major shock. The authorities no doubt see it both as a blow to their anti-drugs efforts and also as a chance to send a strong message.