In 80s Hiroko Yakushimaru, Noriko Watanabe and Tomoyo Harada came to be called " Kadokawa Three Princesses". Born on July 22, 1965 at a hospital in Yahata Nishi Ward, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. Two years later Noriko's father, employee of Ministry of Construction, was transfered to Oita Prefecture. In 1981 15-year Noriko, as Kyushu representative. won Jury Prize at 6th Horipro talent scout caravan. Next year she became a representative of Kyushu in the “Kadokawa New Talents ” in audition for main heroine (post Hiroko Yakushimaru-style) in “Ninja Wars” directed by Kosei Saito. 16-year Noriko. Oita high school student, was chosen from 57,480 applicants. In 1983 Noriko starred in next Saito film “Tsumiki kuzushi” as the same daughter role as the TV drama version Tomoko but was supposed to be played. For this role she has won the 7th (1983) Japanese Academy Awards as “Newcomer of the Year“. In May, the first starring movie " Fine, With Occasional Murders" is released. In addition, the theme song of the movie is also in charge and hit. (18-year-old)

In 1987, he received the Supporting Actress Award for the Yokohama Film Festival in Obayashi Nobuhiko "His Motorcycle, Her Island". The starring of the movie "Times for Lovers" was decided in 1986, but declined because of the presence of a serious nude scene . At the same time, she became independent of Haruka Kadokawa's office.

After that , a huge number of TV dramas and movies such as Nippon Television " Kyo Ichirin ", NHK Taiga drama " Shobu ga Gotoku ", TBS " Very Mother and Daughter ", " Non-chan's Noriben ", and TV Tokyo " Criminal Chasing! "