Noriko Sakai Drug Queen?

More than 6,000 people have queued for the 20 seats in a Tokyo courtroom's public gallery to see a famous Japanese singer and actress go on trial. 
(source: http://www.bbc.co.uk)

Noriko Sakai, 38, has pleaded guilty to using and possessing illegal drugs.

The case has gripped Japan since August when her husband was arrested and she went on the run for a week before turning herself in to the police.

Prosecutors say she took amphetamines in July and that police found a small amount of the drug in her Tokyo home.

In Monday's hearing, she pleaded guilty to possessing 0.008 of a gram of a stimulant drug and of using drugs too.

Police say that after she went on the run, more drugs were found in her apartment.

Sakai faces up to 10 years in prison, though most first violations bring suspended sentences.
A verdict and sentencing are scheduled for November 9. 

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Its crazy what we take for granted here in North America. If you don't know Noriko Sakai, she was a young pop star who began her career at the tender age of 16. She rose to stardom in the late 80's and on through the 90's. You can compare her popularity to Christina Agulera or Monica during her run in Japan. So a past childhood star, respected and loved, is now shedding tears of shame and in the court house. I had to double check if the decimals were in the right spot, but her charges are for 0.008 of amphetamines. No Joke, I have a scale in front of me right now, I just clipped off a couple toe nails which weighed in at 0.019. The justice system in Japan is serious business! A huge contrast to what Western celebrities can get away with, sex tapes, gun charges, child molestation, OJ Simpson can walk away with murder. And here Japan is talking about practice? sorry I mean a couple droplets of drugs. North Americans are lucky not only for a more lax system towards drug possession, but also how a country or society does not vilify you for being a recreational drug user. I wish her the best and hope the charges are minimal. But seriously, 6000 people to watch you plead guilty for drug charges? You have to be kidding!!!!  Haven't they heard the Windows 7 whopper at Burger King is on sale only for 1 week?