Norika Fujiwara: “She’s perfectly fine,” even though her office is bankrupt and Ainosuke is in big trouble due to a serious injury.

Reports of 40 million yen being spent by the president of their office

On November 27, “Sameday,” the entertainment agency to which actress Kika Fujiwara (53) and former AKB actress Mariko Shinoda (38) belonged, announced on its official website that it had gone bankrupt. The sudden event that occurred at the long-established entertainment agency came as a bolt out of the blue for those in the entertainment industry, but what was even more surprising was the fact that the two actresses who were its signatures had not been informed of the situation.

Shinoda was reported to have said on the set of her current drama, “Undercover Siblings: Special Fraud Investigators” (NTV), that she had not been informed of the bankruptcy. Furthermore, on December 11, she announced on her SNS that she would continue her activities as an individual from now on” (sports newspaper reporter).

Meanwhile, Kika was hit by a series of events that further pushed her into a tailspin.

On November 29, her husband, Kabuki actor Ainosuke Kataoka (52), was injured when he came into contact with a stage set during rehearsals. He has been absent from the “Kichi-e no Omise-ekogyo” that began on December 1. In addition, there is this report.

Shukan Josei PRIME (December 2) reported that the president of SAMUDAI had used a one-time investment of 40 million yen, which Kika had solicited from related companies and others to pay for tickets for a stage production, to pay off a debt without her permission. The article states that Norika was shocked by the betrayal of the president, with whom she had shared many years of hardship.

Norika has not said a word about these “mishaps,” and her fans have voiced their concern, but one wife from Rien says, “I am not sure what to do about it.

She would be perfectly fine.

I am sorry to hear about Mr. Ainosuke’s injury, but I hear that it is not a serious injury that will leave him with permanent damage in the future. Norika’s injury coincided with the bankruptcy of her own office and reports that she had spent 40 million yen. I think it must be very difficult for her, not only as an actress but also as the wife of a narien.

But it is strange to say that both injuries and financial problems of actors are common in the Kabuki world, but we are used to it, so it has not become that big a topic of conversation. I am inclined to think of this as a given ordeal and hope that she will do her best. Well, I don’t think she will have any problems at all.”

I was surprised to hear that money problems are common, but what kind of problems do problems occur in a pear orchard?

The most common problem is the debt problem that occurs when the quota of tickets does not sell. An actor’s job is to perform, but a wife’s job is to sell tickets. So each actor is accompanied by a banto, who together with the actor makes the rounds to greet patrons to sell tickets, and even when her husband is not performing, she comes to the theater to greet patrons and help out.

Kabuki performances are held on a monthly basis, and the actors must buy any tickets that are left over at the end of the month. So, a debt of 40 million yen is easily incurred. It is the job of the wives of the actors to make sure they repay their debts.

Even a well-known Kabuki actor who died a few years ago had debts of several tens of millions of yen when he retired. So what about Kika’s case? ……

A full comeback is not far off.

I believe that if it is around 40 million yen, she will be able to get it back in no time. I have not heard any specifics from Kika, but I assume that she is now supporting Aynosuke’s return.

As everyone in the Kabuki business knows, she is a very strong person mentally. She never makes a weak sound. I think there is a good chance that she and her husband will return to work together sooner than you might think.

On December 12, Kika updated her Instagram page. On Stories,

I’m so glad I finished it.

She uploaded a photo of her home-cooked meal with the comment, “I’m so glad we ate it all. With this mentality, a full recovery for the couple is not far off.