OVERSTRESSED OR POSSESSED?

Erika's daughter and violin prodigy Tsukada Aoi stabs man during Saino Festival

by Nakasone Sora

This year's Saino Festival held great promises for her future, but all was not to be for Tsukada Aoi when she stabbed 35-year old Miyazaki Kenjiro in the chest with her violin bow during her performance yesterday morning. The 15-year old daughter of renowned singer Erika had previously been carving out her own mark in the classical music scene, but it appears that scandal runs hand-in-hand with talent in this family. The pressure may have been too much for the young prodigy, causing her public mental breakdown.

Eyewitnesses claim that minutes before the stabbing occurred, Tsukada switched pieces halfway through her act, playing the same song as the participants before her - the Yamasaki flutists -and eliciting confusion from spectators. She was seen to be crying and screaming hysterically, but did not stop performing. Miyazaki, whose daughter Miyazaki Noriko was on the float after Tsukada's, had run up to Tsukada's float, only to be stabbed by the broken end of her bow. Miyazaki is currently in critical condition in Kiyoshi Medical Centre, though it is understood that the splinter had missed his heart and there is possibility of a full recovery. It is not known why he rushed to the float, but there have been speculations.

According to anonymous sources, there is an urban legend of a female ghost trapped in the rooms of Seishin High School, coincidentally the training grounds for this year's participants. It is said that almost twenty years ago, a student killed herself by jumping off the school building after being rejected by the boy she liked. Additionally, Miyazaki and his wife are both Seishin alumni, which have led some to believe that the ghost could have possessed Tsukada to exact vengeance. Further evidenced by testimonies that Tsukada experienced seizures and had unsuccessfully attempted to strangle Miyazaki Noriko until an exorcism was carried out on her, there may very well be a paranormal explanation behind Tsukada's violent outburst.

Both families have declined to comment on the situation. However, Erika announced her hiatus last night, just weeks after dropping her latest album NEBULA, citing personal issues.

Tsukada Aoi may be out of the spotlight for now, but we hope to be able to see the rising star shine again someday.