Rena Yamazaki (山崎怜奈), the former Nogizaka46 idol who has built a second career as a television and radio personality, announced on July 30, 2026 that she is expecting her first child.
Yamazaki broke the news live on her own TOKYO FM program, “Rena Yamazaki’s Something I Wanted to Tell Someone” (山崎怜奈の誰かに話したかったこと。), telling listeners that she has “been blessed with a new life.” The show airs as her regular platform for talking directly to fans, which made it a fitting place for the personal announcement.
In an exclusive interview with Mezamashi Media following the broadcast, Yamazaki reportedly spoke about her mindset heading into childbirth, saying she wants to be able to look back on the experience as a good one no matter what happens. Further details of the pregnancy, including a due date, have not been shared publicly.
Who is Rena Yamazaki?
Rena Yamazaki first became known to Japanese audiences as a member of Nogizaka46, joining as part of the group’s second generation. Since leaving the idol group, she has carved out a distinctive niche as a tarento, or television personality, celebrated in particular for her deep, encyclopedic knowledge of the idol industry’s history. She now hosts her own TOKYO FM radio program and appears regularly across variety and information shows in Japan.
No further announcements about the pregnancy, including plans to step back from her media work, have been made at this time.
Author’s Comment
An idol-turned-radio-host announcing her pregnancy on her own show is about as on-brand as it gets, and I love that for her. Japanese entertainers so rarely get to control the narrative around their own bodies and life milestones, so watching Yamazaki grab the mic herself instead of leaving it to a tabloid scoop feels like a small act of agency. That line about wanting to walk away from the birth feeling like it was a good experience no matter what happens? That’s not idol-speak, that’s just a person being honest about being scared and hopeful at the same time. Congratulations to her, and here’s hoping the Japanese media gives her more than the usual two weeks of maternity-related tabloid fodder before moving on.
