Keiko Fuji

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Keiko Fuji 藤圭子

Background information
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 (1951-07-05) (age 56)

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 actress 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, Hikaru Utada, and was the wife of Teruzane Utada, a record producer.

[edit] 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]