Nozomi Fujikawa gives reporters an eyeful promoting “Onna Goroshi Abura no Jigoku”

by Chris MaGee

Here's a story for any of you out there who thought that Japanese cinema was somehow more pure than Hollywood films, that it was above cheap publicity stunts and crass sexuality. At a press conference held in Higashi Shimbashi, Tokyo yesterday 27-year-old actress and gravure model Nozomi Fujikawa dropped her kimono exclaiming "I’m not wearing anything under this. I came without any underwear," and gave the assembled press quite an eyeful posing semi-nude for a number of photos. Why you may ask? To promote her upcoming starring role in Shinobu Sakagami's erotic retelling of the classic bunraku, and later kabuki, play written by Chikamatsu Monzaemon in 1721. The play tells the story of the murder of a wealthy Osaka oil merchant and has been adapted to the screen a half dozen times, most recently as a 1992 FujiTV mini-series. I don't think any of the adaptations can hold a candle to the bare flesh and heaving bosoms on display in Sakagami's film though. Check out the trailer below to see what I mean. There's no real nudity included, but you still may want to be careful if you're at work.

“Onna Goroshi Abura no Jigoku” is set to premiere in Japan this Saturday, May 23rd. Thanks to Japan Today for this story.