Norika Fujiwara and other cast members rehearse on Monday.

Norika Fujiwara limbers up for her stage musical debut

Tuesday 09th December, 09:36 AM JST

TOKYO —

Norika Fujiwara, 37, on Monday let reporters in to catch a glimpse of her rehearsal for her stage musical debut in “Drowsy Chaperone,” the Japanese adaptation of what became a Broadway production, where it ran for nearly 700 shows until the end of 2007.

When she was first picked for the role of main character Janet Van De Graaff last April, Fujiwara revealed she got a score of minus 20cm in her forward bends, indicating she wasn’t very flexible. But at the rehearsal on Monday, Fujiwara lifted her leg right up to her head, and did the splits with ease. “It still hurts, but I hope I’ll be able to do various poses comfortably for the show every day,” she said.

Takeshi Nadagi, 38, who has a kissing scene with Fujiwara, lamented: “Every time I looked at her lips, her husband Jinnai’s lips would pop in to my head. I’m so envious.”

“Drowsy Chaperone” opens at the Nissay Theater in Hibiya on Jan 5.

13 Comments

rjd_jr at 09:48 AM JST - 9th December

Sounds pretty strenuous role.
Sarge at 10:18 AM JST - 9th December

"Fujiwara lifted her leg right up to her head... "It still hurts."

If I lifted my leg right up to my head, I'd have to have major surgery to re-attach the leg.

"Every time I looked at her lips, her husband Jinnai's lips woud pop into my head"

Yuck!
soldave at 10:39 AM JST - 9th December

"But at the rehearsal on Monday, Fujiwara lifted her leg right up to her head, and did the splits with ease" - she is now the complete woman!
romulus3 at 12:22 PM JST - 9th December

“Every time I looked at her lips, her husband Jinnai’s lips would pop in to my head. I’m so envious.”

so while he was kissing her he was thinking of him?
Weasel at 02:09 PM JST - 9th December

Every time I looked at her lips, her husband Jinnai’s lips would pop in to my head. I’m so envious.”

Definitely there was something lost in translation - at least I would hope so.
Dubya at 02:46 PM JST - 9th December

Bow Wow
soldave at 03:02 PM JST - 9th December

Weasel - don't put your money on it. One wonders if this guy envies Jinnai or Noriko.
GW at 03:30 PM JST - 9th December

Takeshi Nadagi, 38, who has a kissing scene with Fujiwara, lamented: “Every time I looked at her lips, her husband Jinnai’s lips would pop in to my head. I’m so envious.”

What an stupid thing to say, dont J-moms teach the old "If you havent got a good thing to say dont say anything" or similar

Surprised they didnt ask Norika if her marriage was ok or not, the press also always has to have some daft question for the women
USNinJapan2 at 03:58 PM JST - 9th December

If I only had a nickel every time this woman has had cosmetic surgery...
Sarge at 04:05 PM JST - 9th December

USN - I think you confusing Norika with Seiko Matsuda.
Sarge at 06:50 PM JST - 9th December

"Fujiwara lifted her leg right up to her head"

I'd like to see a video of that.
USNinJapan2 at 10:06 PM JST - 9th December

No Sarge. It's widely known, although not often discussed, that Norika has had numerous surgical alterations. Ever noticed how she's all over the media for about a year and then she completely dissappears from the public view for months at a time, then returns looking younger than ever?
noirgaijin at 07:49 AM JST - 10th December

USNinJapan2, I agree with Sarge you may be thinking of Seiko Matsuda. If she were to ever get a cut or blow her nose to hard a gallon of Botox would drain out of her.