Norika Fujiwara Grateful for Love Affair Report with Ainosuke Kataoka

Why did she thank the weekly magazine?

Eight years after their marriage in March 2016, actress Norika Fujiwara (53) commented for the first time on the hot topic about her relationship with her kabuki actor husband, Kataoka Ainosuke (52). Fujiwara appeared on January 8th on “Sekai Chou Gourmet” (NTV), with her long-time friend, singer Kumi Koda (42).

When Koda asked, “What did you like about your husband?”

“He’s really an ordinary person. He’s kind to everyone, including his disciples and staff, without any distinction. He’s genuinely kind as a person, and I thought he was amazing.”

Fujiwara explained.

She continued, “One time, I got caught by the media, and the office called me asking, ‘Are you dating?’ I said, ‘The comment changes whether we’re dating or not.’ I told them he’s just a fun friend, and the office asked if we could not meet for a while. I agreed.”

She then mentioned that, after not being able to meet, her feelings for Ainosuke deepened. A month after the media coverage, they reached out to each other and confirmed their feelings. Fujiwara then clapped her hands and said:

“I was grateful to the weekly magazines at that time.”

Koda, amazed, replied, 

“I’ve never seen someone grateful like that,” while appearing somewhat exasperated.

The first report on their intense love affair came from Josei Seven, released on May 28, 2015.

“It reported that Ainosuke stayed at Fujiwara’s home for two consecutive nights. At that time, Fujiwara’s agency denied the relationship, saying, ‘We heard they’re just good friends.’ Ainosuke also denied the relationship on his blog, stating, ‘There’s no such fact.’ However, a month later, it seems they confirmed their romantic intentions,” said a television magazine writer.

“FRIDAY” reported their intimate love affair three months later, in the August edition (September 11, 2015). Let’s look back on that moment.

 

Ainosuke rests his chin on his left shoulder

In late August 2015, on a weekday, Norika visited a famous esthetic salon in Akasaka (Minato Ward) around 5 PM. After spending three and a half hours there, she left the salon just before 9 PM, and a sports car conveniently stopped in front of her. The person who came to pick her up after her pampering session was Ainosuke.

As mentioned earlier, three months prior, Women’s Seven had reported Ainosuke staying at Norika’s house. Ainosuke had denied the relationship on his blog, emphasizing that Norika was just a friend. However, on this night, the couple was clearly very much in love, and they acted like a couple, enjoying each other’s company.

Ainosuke picked up Norika and drove her to a residential area near Yotsuya Station. After parking at a coin-operated parking lot, they got out of the car together and started walking—holding hands tightly!

Norika, in high spirits, laughed loudly, her joyful voice echoing through the residential neighborhood. After her divorce from comedian Tomonori Jinnai in 2009, Norika was rumored to have brief romances with an analyst and a program producer, but both relationships ended quickly. She had developed an image of misfortune, but on this occasion, she appeared full of life and happiness.

They didn’t let go of each other’s hands and entered a certain apartment building, which seemed to be the home of a mutual acquaintance. They appeared to be visiting together.

After staying at the friend’s apartment for about two and a half hours, they left before midnight and returned to the same coin-operated parking lot where Ainosuke had parked earlier. The entire walk was completely their own world. Norika rested her chin on Ainosuke’s left shoulder and gave him a mischievous smile. Ainosuke looked pleased by the attention. Finally, Norika wrapped her arm around his waist, and the two walked closely together, seemingly oblivious to anyone else around them.

 

I thought she was very fond of him.

When they arrived at the parking lot, Ainosuke escorted Norika to the passenger seat, drove the car, and headed to her apartment. Ainosuke left Norika’s apartment the following morning, around 9 a.m.

“The two are now almost living together.”

This was said by someone in the theater industry at the time. Furthermore, someone in the entertainment industry also spoke about the situation, saying:

“After the report about Norika, Ainosuke desperately tried to explain by saying, ‘She’s just a friend,’ but it was pretty obvious that they were in a relationship. This is because, after finishing his work, Ainosuke hardly ever returned to his usual hotel and instead headed toward Norika’s apartment (laughs). It seems that he is now living with her. 

Originally, Norika became interested in Ainosuke after watching his kabuki performance in the fall of 2014, and their relationship progressed from there. She’s a person who tends to go straight for the man she likes, and it seems that out of all the men she has been with in the past few years, she is particularly fond of Ainosuke. She has been telling everyone, ‘His talent is amazing!’”

The next year, on March 30, 2016, they registered their marriage. In September of the same year, they held their wedding ceremony at the Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto, Norika’s hometown.

Now, Norika and Ainosuke are considered one of the most loving couples in the kabuki world. They will likely continue to enjoy their happy married life.