On September 12th, an official statement regarding former Morning Musume member Kago Ai and her suicide attempt was submitted by proxy through her representative, a lawyer named Sadatomo Yoshinori.

As we previously reported, Kago was found lying on the floor of her apartment in a stupor (feared to be from an acute drug intoxication). She had gashes on her wrists, so she was immediately transported to the local hospital. As of September 12th, the former idol's health has improved.

Sadatomo - who sent a fax to the media on the same day - stated, "As of this afternoon, Kago Ai will thankfully be fine, and was given the diagnosis that she can expect to be discharged from the hospital before long."

According to her representative, Kago had called him at approximately 11AM that morning, stating, "Sensei, it looks as if I've been cutting my wrists." When he urged her to go to the hospital, she replied, "It's okay. I'd like to take a little break, so I'm going to rest." Afterwards, Kago ceased to respond to further contact, so agency officials were quickly sent to check on her. Those who arrived on the scene found Kago lying on the floor after appearing to have ingested a large amount of tranquilizers.

Kago Ai had been living with her 44-year-old boyfriend Ando Haruhiko when he was arrested earlier this month. Ando was apprehended� after an attempted extortion, during which he claimed to have ties with the Yamaguchi yakuza clan to avoid paying for his loans.

According to her lawyer, Kago seemed to feel very guilty about the incident. "To be honest, he might've done it for me," she said at one point. After receiving an apology for the extortion incident from Ando's mother, she then attempted to commit suicide.

Ito Kazumitsu - the president of her management company "Mainstream" - visited Kago Ai while she was in the hospital that very morning, but has not been able to visit for the past several days. "I haven't been able to get in touch with her since I'm a third party," he commented. When asked about the claims from her representatives that Kago's motive for suicide was fueled in part by her bad relationship with her management, Ito angrily responded, "It's a completely baseless argument. They're blaming it on us."

"I think she still hasn't gotten away from Ando's mental control over her," her management company's president continued. "My message to Kago? Get in touch with us!"

The former idol has made no contact with her company in half a year, so despite concern over her current condition, a contract cancellation may be in sight if the situation continues.

Source: Sports Hochi