Keiko Fuji

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Keiko Fuji (藤圭子 Fuji Keiko), real name Junko Utada (宇多田純子 Utada Junko, Born July 5, 1951 in Iwate Prefecture, Japan), is an enka singer and actresss well known in Japan. She had success in the 1960s and 1970s with her ballad-type songs.

She is also the mother of one of the currently most popular female singers in Japan, Utada Hikaru, and is the wife of Teruzane Utada, a record producer.

All current gossip and rumours aside (see below), she is one of the most gifted singers ever to grace a microphone in her country Japan, and her voice is as important to the genre of Enka music (popular in the 1960s and 70s) as singer Tammy Wynette is to Country and Western music. Under-rated, under-appreciated, and now besmirched, still, no one can take away Fuji Keiko's immense talent and ability to move people's emotions with her voice.

[edit] 2006 confiscation of cash by the DEA

On March 3, 2006, US DEA officials confiscated more than $400,000 in US, 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 seeked 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 hardly helped her reputation by saying she had spent some 500 million yen (4.26 million USD) in first-class air tickets and hotel bills over the previous five years.