News On Japan

AKB48 Talent Gives Birth to Baby Girl

TOKYO - Former AKB48 member Minami Minegishi announced on Sunday the birth of her first child, a baby girl.

On July 14th, Minegishi shared on Instagram, "I recently gave birth to my first child. She is a healthy baby girl, 48cm tall (!), and both mother and child are in excellent health. Since announcing my pregnancy, I have been encouraged by everyone's warm messages. Thank you very much for all the support. Watching my daughter bring her hands close to her face, I recall how she never showed her face in the ultrasound pictures. It feels like a miracle that the baby I carried inside me is now truly here, and I am filled with immense happiness every day. Together with my adorable daughter and my husband, who is completely smitten with her, we aim to build an even warmer family."

Her husband, Tetsuya from Tokai On Air, also shared on X, "Our first child has been born. We have only just met, but I am already filled with unprecedented happiness. I am deeply grateful to my wife, who went through so much for ten months to bring this child into our lives. I will protect our beloved child forever!!!"

Fellow AKB48 member Minami Takahashi sent a congratulatory message, "Congratulations, Mi-chan," while Yuko Oshima, Yuki Kashiwagi, and Haruna Kojima, among others, expressed their joy by liking the post.

Fans also shared their excitement, leaving comments like "Congratulations on your baby girl! She's so tiny and adorable!" and "Please take care of yourself and enjoy motherhood."

Source: ANN

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Japan’s World Cup campaign ended in the cruelest possible fashion on June 29, as Gabriel Martinelli scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to give Brazil a 2-1 victory over the Samurai Blue in their knockout match in Houston. Japan had led in the first half and were still level at 1-1 in the final moments, but Martinelli’s late strike sent Brazil into the Round of 16 and eliminated Japan from the tournament.

Strong earthquakes have continued to shake parts of Japan in recent weeks, with 11 temblors measuring lower 5 or above on the Japanese seismic intensity scale recorded across the country since April 2026.

A Kintetsu Railway train derailed inside Kyoto Station on the morning of June 29, forcing partial suspensions on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line for the rest of the day and causing long delays that hit commuters, students and tourists.

A section of stone wall at Hikone Castle, one of Japan’s few surviving original Edo-period castles and a National Treasure whose main keep remains intact more than 400 years after its construction, collapsed after heavy rain caused by Typhoons No. 7 and No. 8, Hikone city officials said.

Japan advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup after a 1-1 draw with Sweden on June 25, finishing second in Group F and setting up a Round of 32 clash with Brazil in Houston.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Entertainment NEWS

Akihiro Miwa, the singer and actor whose career spanned chanson, theater, film, television and voice acting, died of old age on June 20 at the age of 91, her management office said.

Hiroji Miyamoto, one of Japan’s leading rock singers, marked his 60th birthday with an appearance on News23, reflecting on a life spent in music and performing the program’s ending theme, "Close Your Eyes," in the studio.

When exploring an online dating platform for the first time, it helps to know which features actually shape the experience — and which ones are just window dressing.

Aesthetic calm and peace in japan.

Japan's parliament on June 17 enacted a revised copyright law that creates a new right allowing singers, musicians, and record companies to receive royalties when their recorded music is used as background music in commercial facilities such as cafes in Japan and overseas.

A fashion event produced by Kansai Collection was held on June 13 at COMTEC PORTBASE in Minato Ward, Nagoya, where 300 participants were chosen as the inaugural Nagoya Select Models through audience voting.

Tamayo Nakamura, the actress and television personality whose career spanned more than seven decades and bridged the worlds of traditional Japanese theater, film, television drama and variety entertainment, died of pneumonia on June 9th. She was 86.

The YOSAKOI Soran Festival, one of Sapporo's signature early-summer events, opened on June 10, bringing together 275 dance teams for five days of performances across the city.