All the media buzz over the last 24 hours has been about the divorce of actress Fujiwara Norika (37) and comedian Jinnai Tomonori( 35). Fujiwara is currently on location in Africa, so the spotlight has fallen squarely on Jinnai. In a statement yesterday, he flatly denied a rumor that the cause of the split was domestic violence. Insisting that the blame lay completely on his shoulders he said that they were trying to patch things up. Speaking to reporters, Fujiwara’s mother was in tears as she her daughter had made every effort to make their relationship work, changing her schedule to suit her husband’s and even cooking his favorite food. Then she dropped a bombshell when she said that Jinnai had been having affairs for about the last year. She refused to go into further detail, telling reporters they should ask him directly. She did say, “She’s an entertainer’s wife, so she could put up with two or three (affairs). She’s a generous type.” But after Norika finished a stage production last month, she returned to her family home in Kobe and said to her mother, “Mom, I’m sorry. I tried to keep it all secret, but I just can’t take it anymore.” The divorce has not been formalized yet, but both parties are said to have stamped their seals on the paperwork and it simply needs to be registered at the municipal office. Fujiwara will no doubt have come under intense media attention on her arrival back from Africa.
Earlier story:
Jinnai, Fujiwara Marriage to End After 2 Years (Mar 19, 2009)