Yui Yokoyama (横山由依), 33, a former member and ex-general director of AKB48, and her husband Shota Ushirogami (後上翔太), 40, a member of the mood kayo vocal group Junretsu, announced on October 26 that they have welcomed their first child, a baby girl.
The couple shared the news through a jointly signed, handwritten statement, in which they expressed their joy over the arrival of their \”precious, tiny\” daughter, according to the statement quoted by Sponichi Annex. Yokoyama and Ushirogami married in 2021, and this marks the first child for both.
The announcement adds to what Japanese entertainment outlets have been calling a celebrity \”baby boom\” this year, following a string of high-profile couples sharing similar news, including musician Gen Hoshino and actress Yui Aragaki earlier in the year.
Who is Yui Yokoyama?
Yui Yokoyama rose to fame as a member of AKB48, the mega-popular Japanese idol group known for its rotating lineup of dozens of members and its rare system of fan-voted \”general elections\” to determine center positions. Yokoyama went on to serve as AKB48’s second-ever general director (総監督), a leadership role within the group responsible for guiding fellow members, before graduating from AKB48 in 2019. Since then, she has built a career as an actress and television talent, appearing in dramas and variety programs across Japanese TV.
Who is Shota Ushirogami?
Shota Ushirogami is a member of Junretsu (純烈), a four-member vocal group known for performing mood kayo, a nostalgic, melodramatic style of Japanese ballad popular with older audiences. The group has built a following through regular TV appearances and live performances across Japan.
Author’s Comment
A pop idol turned general director marries a guy who sings old-school ballads for a living, and now there’s a baby. Honestly? Peak only-in-Japan energy. I love that idol fandom isn’t a one-way street forever — these women graduate, grow up, and get to have their own quiet little family announcements instead of being frozen in time as someone’s oshi. And can we talk about the sheer volume of celebrity babies dropping this year? At this point Japan’s entertainment press should just open a maternity ward. Congrats to the happy family, genuinely.
