Noriko Sakai in China for anti-drug campaign

Noriko Sakai

TOKYO — Actress Noriko Sakai, 40, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years, in 2009 on charges of drug use and possession, has been in China for the past few days to promote an anti-drug campaign.

The Chinese government reportedly requested the actress specifically because of her personal run-in with the law, and Sakai apparently eagerly accepted. Sakai, who toured China many times when she was a singer, is still relatively popular there, and was greeted by smiling fans.

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