[MMM]

A lot of the newscasters commented on her wig (which I guess she wears sometimes). For some reason she REALLY didn't want to be there. One rumor said she wasn't happy with an interview that happened before this press conference (either the same day or the day before) but when the interviewer heard that he was very surprised, and it was a very normal fluff interview.

The Japanese media and paparazzi are like sharks. If there is blood in the water they will strike, but in general are very star-friendly. Most media won't print pictures of stars in private moments UNLESS there is a scandal attached. In return, stars (movie, tv, music, etc...) are pretty open with the media. It isn't uncommon to see interview with famous people as they get off a plane from vacation. Instead of brushing the cameras away the good star will stop for a few minute to talk about his trip to Hawaii or where ever. It's a pretty healthy system. In a country like Japan, it's funny, privacy isn't as important to the individual, but is more respected. You just don't have the same privacy we do in the west (that's why public baths would never work here) but certain boundaries are respected, even by paparazzi.

That being said, this was a major promotional event for her starring role (at 21 years old) in a movie. She has gotten a lot of praise for "1 Liter of Tears", but this complete ass-out in front of the entire Japanese media confirmed many rumors of how difficult a person she is to work with.

I am not sure why it bugs me so much. I guess a part of me thinks that someone, like Elizibeth Taylor, who has been doted on for decades has a little bit of a right to be a prima donna. But someone who had been on a pedastal for only a tiny fraction of her life has taken a real chance to take a dump on the movie which should propel her to greater stardom. That's always so baffling to me.