Woman claims to not know she was providing Pierre Taki with cocaine

TOKYO (TR) – A 48-year-old woman in custody for allegedly supplying cocaine to musician Pierre Taki, one half of the synth-pop duo Denki Groove, has denied knowing what she was giving him, reports TBS News (Mar. 24).

On March 11, Maki Tasaka, an interpreter, allegedly supplied Taki, 51, with cocaine. Police arrested Tasaka at her residence in Yokohama on March 19.

Upon her arrest, she denied the allegations. “An acquaintance requested that I make a delivery,” police have since quoted her. “I did not know that it was cocaine.”

Last fall, police started an investigation into Taki. During the investigation, investigators learned that Tasaka has been an acquaintance of the musician for about 20 years.

On March 12, law enforcement searched the residence of Taki in Setagaya Ward. Investigators did not find any cocaine, but a subsequent analysis of the urine of the musician provided a positive result for cocaine.

Upon his arrest for violating the Narcotics Control Law, Taki admitted to the allegations, police said previously.

Text messages

An examination of the smartphone of Taki by police showed text messages between him and Tasaki that were believed to be about the delivery of cocaine.

The arrest of Tasaka came after Taki said that he obtained the cocaine from her, police said previously.

Denki Groove formed in 1989. Taki also regularly appears in a number of dramas for public broadcaster NHK, including this year’s fictional series “Idaten,” which tells the story of two Japanese Olympic athletes from different eras.

Since Taki’s arrest, a number of entertainment companies have cancelled projects involving the musician. Sony Music Labels Inc. is halting shipments of CDs and DVDs featuring Taki and Denki Groove.

As well, several Denki Groove performances have been cancelled.