Norika Fujiwara
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
beauty queen
, model
and actress. She became Miss Japan
in 1992 and was an exclusive model for CanCam
magazine. She has appeared in various commercials and TV series
and a number of film
s in Japan.
of Japan
ese - Korea
n friendship during the 2002 FIFA World Cup
, reporting from the 2004 Olympics in Greece, and going to Afghanistan
and holding a photo exhibition there. Fujiwara was formerly a guest announcer and interviewer for K-1
on their major shows until 2006 when she was replaced by Waka Inoue
.
Fujiwara has additionally worked in the video game and anime markets; her latest work as the main character Alicia in Project Minerva (PlayStation 2
) (2002), a squad-based, real-time semi-RPG versus rogue robots game, released in an updated English form with more missions as Project Minerva Professional by Midas Interactive of the UK
. She voiced Princess Fiona
in the Japanese-dubbed version of the Shrek films.
Fujiwara spent one month in a homestay program with a family in the United States
and continues to study English
. She reportedly hopes to someday act in an English-language film produced in the West such as in the United States
or Great Britain
. She has already applied her talent to the English language in the film China Strike Force
(aka Spy_N in Japan, with the "N" standing for "Norika") co-starring Aaron Kwok
, Mark Dacascos
and Coolio
. In 2007, she visited India to make a documentary film on Super 30
.
Fujiwara also had a leading role in the live-action film Great Teacher Onizuka where she played a semi-romantic role with Sorimachi Takashi.
for a time. She married Osaka
-based comedian
Tomonori Jinnai on February 17, 2007 at Ikuta Shrine
in Kobe city in Hyōgo Prefecture, and their romance became popular with the public and media. Rumors of their impending divorce emerged on March 19, 2009. As of March 23, 2009, she is divorced.
with television star Masashi Tashiro
. It was rumored that Masashi Tashiro may have secretly installed a hidden camera in the women's restroom to covertly record Fujiwara and other women changing clothes or using the restroom facilities. However, no video or images from this supposed electronic surveillance has appeared.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
beauty queen
Beauty contest
A beauty pageant or beauty contest, is a competition that mainly focuses on the physical beauty of its contestants, although such contests often incorporate personality, talent, and answers to judges' questions as judged criteria...
, model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
and actress. She became Miss Japan
Miss Japan
is a beauty contest that has been held by a diet gym company and Yomiuri news group every year between winners of the Japanese block pageants.Winner is chosen out of 2000 candidates.- Winners :-External links:* on Sports Nippon...
in 1992 and was an exclusive model for CanCam
CanCam
is a Japanese fashion magazine published by Shogakukan. Its name supposedly derives from "I Can Campus", because girls who read it are expected to become "campus leaders". The magazine was created for fashion-conscious consumers, and offers information on fashion, makeup, bags, accessories, etc...
magazine. She has appeared in various commercials and TV series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
and a number of film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s in Japan.
Career
After several years of model work, Fujiwara has since worked internationally as a journalist and spokesperson, including acting as an ambassadorAmbassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese - Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n friendship during the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
, reporting from the 2004 Olympics in Greece, and going to Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and holding a photo exhibition there. Fujiwara was formerly a guest announcer and interviewer for K-1
K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
on their major shows until 2006 when she was replaced by Waka Inoue
Waka Inoue
Waka Inoue is a Japanese idol, tarento and actress. She was born in Meguro, Tokyo as Naoko Aramura . Her mother is former actress Kyoko Saga.Waka's main claim to fame in the tarento circles is her bustline...
.
Fujiwara has additionally worked in the video game and anime markets; her latest work as the main character Alicia in Project Minerva (PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
) (2002), a squad-based, real-time semi-RPG versus rogue robots game, released in an updated English form with more missions as Project Minerva Professional by Midas Interactive of the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. She voiced Princess Fiona
Princess Fiona
Princess Fiona is the princess and the tritagonist in the films Shrek, Shrek 2, Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After. Actress Cameron Diaz provides her voice to the character, and Fiona's singing is provided by Renee Sands of Kids Incorporated and Wild Orchid.-Shrek:In Shrek, Lord Farquaad sends...
in the Japanese-dubbed version of the Shrek films.
Fujiwara spent one month in a homestay program with a family in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and continues to study English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. She reportedly hopes to someday act in an English-language film produced in the West such as in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
or Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. She has already applied her talent to the English language in the film China Strike Force
China Strike Force
China Strike Force is a 2000 Hong Kong action film starring Aaron Kwok, Norika Fujiwara, Leehom Wang and Ruby Lin. It was directed by Stanley Tong and written by Steven Whitney and Stanley Tong.-Synopsis:...
(aka Spy_N in Japan, with the "N" standing for "Norika") co-starring Aaron Kwok
Aaron Kwok
Aaron Kwok Fu-shing is a Hong Kong singer, dancer and actor. He has been active since the 1980s to the present. The media refer to him, Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau and Leon Lai as the Cantopop Four Heavenly Kings . Kwok's onstage dancing and displays is influenced by Michael Jackson...
, Mark Dacascos
Mark Dacascos
Mark Alan Dacascos is an American actor and martial artist. He won numerous karate and various styles of kung fu championships between the ages of 7 and 18....
and Coolio
Coolio
Artis Leon Ivey Jr. , better known by the stage name Coolio, is an American musician, rapper, actor and record producer.-Late 80s:He recorded two singles in the late 80s, titled "Watcha Gonna Do" and "You're Gonna Miss Me"...
. In 2007, she visited India to make a documentary film on Super 30
Super 30
Super 30 is an Indian educational program that started in Patna, Bihar, India under the banner of 'Ramanujan School of Mathematics', by Anand Kumar. Established in 2002, the program selects 30 meritorious and talented candidates each year from economically backward sections of society and trains...
.
Fujiwara also had a leading role in the live-action film Great Teacher Onizuka where she played a semi-romantic role with Sorimachi Takashi.
Personal life
Fujiwara was rumored to have been romantically involved with late K-1 fighter Andy HugAndy Hug
Andy Hug was a Swiss Seidokaikan and Kyokushin karateka and kickboxer from Wohlen. Hug was the K-1 World Grand Prix 1996 champion and runner up in 1997 and 1998.-Biography and career:...
for a time. She married Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
-based comedian
Owarai
is a broad word used to describe Japanese comedy as seen on television. The word owarai is the honorific form of the word warai, meaning "a laugh" or "a smile". Owarai is most common on Japanese variety shows and the comedians are referred to as owarai geinin or owarai tarento...
Tomonori Jinnai on February 17, 2007 at Ikuta Shrine
Ikuta Shrine
' is a Shinto shrine in the Chūō Ward of Kobe, Japan, and is possibly among the oldest shrines in the country.According to Nihon Shoki, it was founded by the Empress Jingū at the beginning of the 3rd century AD to enshrine the kami Wakahirume, and was used as the base for a festival welcoming...
in Kobe city in Hyōgo Prefecture, and their romance became popular with the public and media. Rumors of their impending divorce emerged on March 19, 2009. As of March 23, 2009, she is divorced.
Masashi Tashiro
Fujiwara once hosted a sport program, called "SRS", by Fuji TelevisionFuji Television
is a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
with television star Masashi Tashiro
Masashi Tashiro
is a former Japanese television performer and the founding member of the band Rats & Star. Tashiro was a tenor vocalist for Rats & Star, and later on made himself a name as a TV entertainer in Japan...
. It was rumored that Masashi Tashiro may have secretly installed a hidden camera in the women's restroom to covertly record Fujiwara and other women changing clothes or using the restroom facilities. However, no video or images from this supposed electronic surveillance has appeared.
External links
- Official site NORIKANESQUE
- at JMDb
- Norika.net
- Afghanistan Smiles Photo exhibition in Afghanistan
- Cosmetic that Fujiwara patronizes