Yuko Aoyama, 38, who co-anchors NHK's program “News Watch 9,” which airs on NHK General TV Mon-Fri at 9 p.m., is to be moved to a daytime slot to host a live talk show called, "Hello from Studio Park." The new chat show will air from 1:05 p.m. on weekdays.
The move is believed to be an attempt to give Aoyama's public image a new start, following on from the announcement that she is set to marry her fiance, a 37-year-old employee of a medical welfare company, in the near future. In a bid to make a clean break with the past, "News Watch 9" producers are also replacing Aoyama's co-presenter Goro Taguchi, 52, with 49-year-old Kensuke Okoshi.
Aoyama started her career on "News Watch 9" as a sports commentator in April of 2006 before sliding into the main presenter role when the show relaunched in March of 2008. She gained a big following for eloquent manner and sharp analytical skills, and she gradually became known as the face of "News Watch 9."
© Japan Today
18 Comments
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shirokuma2011
She's good at what she does, but why getting married has to have anything to do with what show she works on...
Jkanda
She is very admirable.Newswatch is a very interesting and lively program.
Jeff Huffman
shirokuma2011 at 07:37 AM JST - 28th January She's good at what she does, but why getting married has to have anything to do with what show she works on...
Well, then she can be home to fix dinner for her husband, of course. And I'm not being facetious.
kyushujoe
So she gets married and her co-presenter gets the boot? Lovely!
Sarge
I'll miss her on Newswatch 9. I hope the sports newscaster, Ayako Ichiyanagi doesn't go anywhere, as she is gorgeous!
dishdash
"The face of news watch 9" - rather Ron Burgundy-esque comment!
Noripinhead
Now's there's less reason to watch News Watch 9. She's hot.
gaijinstud
Get straight to that kitchen like a good j-wife!
paulinusa
Followed a pretty sportscaster years ago until one day she announced she was getting married and would retire in a matter of weeks. Just like that and she was gone.
ebisen
I thought she'll go to "Inai-Inai-Baaaa"...
herefornow
Hope her bento skills are up to snuff. Gotta be the good wife to her "company employee" husband.
britling
No tears shed over Taguchi's departure. I always felt the programme was sharper when it was just Aoyama in the studio. But no doubt the next two will continue with the practice of an older man pontificating to a nodding younger woman.
Richard_III
The current guy is a bit better than the guy that preceeded him. That guy knew absolutely everything, or pretended he did.
spikemillwoywoy
Only ever watch the final 10 minutes,weather and sports, cause the first 50 minutes of the 10:00 news is sooooo slow..can't see where her appeal is looks unfit and overweight.
britling
Unfit and overweight??
Trapped
Who? Is this news?
Sarge
"unfit and overweight ( Yuko Aoyama )"
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha !
"Who? Is this news?"
Good grief, if you don't watch News Watch 9 and don't know who she is, just go to another thread.
butakun
This happened last year. The current guy is Okoshi, who replaced Taguchi in 2010.