is a Japanese singer, dancer, model and actress. She is a member of the J-pop group Happiness, and a former member E-girls, and ShuuKaRen, and an exclusive model for the magazines JJ and Nicola. Karen is represented by LDH.
Biography Fujii entered the entertainment industry at a very young age after she was scouted in her hometown, Osaka. While belonging to the office in which she got scouted, she participated in one of Exile's dance competitions and began attending LDH's talent academy EXPG (Exile Professional Gym), studying both dancing and singing. Her sister Shuuka also attended EXPG. As a junior high school student, she moved from Osaka to Tokyo and started to live in a dormitory.
Fujii is the younger sister of Johnny's West member Ryusei Fujii and former E-girls, Flower and ShuuKaRen member Shuuka Fujii. Fujii is an aunt of twin boys by her sister Shuuka.
Career On October 26, 2008, Karen became one of the EXPG graduates who were chosen to be members of the performance group Happiness, marking the start in her career as a vocalist and performer. Her official stage name became Karen (stylized as KAREN).
In February 2009 she started her modeling career by becoming an exclusive model for the fashion magazine Nicola.
On February 9, 2011, she made her major debut with Happiness with their single "Kiss Me". On April 24 in the same year, she was announced as member of E-girls (alongside all other members of Happiness), having a concurrent position in E-girls and Happiness.
Karen graduated as an exclusive model for Nicola in May 2013. In June she changed her stage name and started using her birth name. On July 22, it was announced that Karen would start working as an exclusive model for JJ, also a fashion magazine, from its September issue onward.
In January 2014 she made her debut as an actress on the Nippon TV drama A Perfect Day for Love Letters (Koibumi Biyori).
On August 11, 2016, she was announced to debut in the unit ShuuKaRen alongside Shuuka Fujii. The duo debuted on October 5.
In February 2017, she was the cover of the April issue of JJ, being her first magazine cover since her debut as a model. On December 31 in the same year, Shuuka graduated from Flower and ShuuKaRen and retired from entertainment industry. With Karen being the only remaining member of the duo, ShuuKaRen disbanded.
In November 2018, Karen was chosen as one of the ambassadors for LDH Martial Arts' "ENERGY PROJECT" which advertises different fitness supplies from LDH's original brand.
On July 16, 2019, she released her first photobook titled KAREN. In August of the same year, Karen collaborated as a creative director with fashion label Samantha Thavasa for a collection of designer bags, titled Samantha Vega Girl. In the same year, she also starred in a special collaboration movie of Saint Laurent and i-D Japan alongside Sho Kiyohara.
Personal life On December 5, 2024, Fujii and the rock band I Don't Like Mondays.' vocalist, Yu, jointly announced their marriage through their official social media accounts. She announced her first pregnancy on her 30th birthday, on July 16, 2026.
Filmography
Runways Year Title SeasonRef. 2011 Tokyo Girls Collection Autumn / Winter 2012 point spring collection Girls AwardAutumn / Winter 2013 Kansai Collection Spring / Summer 2014 Kobe CollectionTokyo Runway 2015 Girls Award Autumn / Winter2017Tokyo Girls CollectionGirls Award2018Tokyo Girls CollectionSpring / SummerTokyo Girls CollectionAutumn / WinterGirls Award2019Tokyo Girls Collection Shizuoka 2019 for SDGs
TV Dramas Year Title Role Network NotesRef. 2014 A Perfect Day for Love Letters Fumiko Kobayashi NTV Episode 5; Lead role 2015 High & Low: The Story Of S.W.O.R.D. Lara 2016High & Low Season 2
Films Year Title RoleRef. 2016 Road To High & Low LaraHigh & Low: The Movie2017High & Low The Movie 2 / End Of SkyHigh & Low THE Movie 3 / Final Mission
Internet TV Year Title Website Notes 2009–2010 nicola-changoomo Occasional appearances
TV shows Year Title Network NotesRef. 2012–2013 Odori-baTV Tokyo MC
Commercials +YearTitleNotesRef.2017& chouettewith other E-girls members directed by Nicola Formichetti2019Samantha Thavasa 25thYofuku no Aoyamawith other E-girls members
Music video appearances Year TitleArtist 2008 24 karats -type EX- (Kodomo Version)Exile2019ONE -we are one-Samantha Thavasa Family
Voice acting +YearTitleRole2017High & Low g-sword Animation DVD Special EditionLara
Bibliography
Style books/Photo books Year Title Ref. 2016 Antithese2019KAREN
Magazines Year Title Notes 2009–2013 Nicola Exclusive model 2013–present JJ2019SWAG HOMMESISSUE9
Catalogues Year Title 2012 Kyoto Kimono Yuzen
References
External links