Rina Yamamoto’s Secrets to Success Amidst Freelance Struggles

On July 1, former TBS announcer Rina Yamamoto appeared on Nep League (Fuji TV) and caused a stir on X (formerly Twitter).

She made mistakes on questions about job experiences that announcers need to know. When asked about her relationship with her senior co-star, former TBS announcer Kunioka Hasen, she responded

“I learned how to have fun from Hasen-san (laughs).”

She revealed this and livened up the atmosphere. 

 

“Although she repeatedly gave offbeat answers to questions ranging from trends to historical issues, and didn’t perform particularly well, her rich expressions and moments of hesitation were overwhelmingly praised as ‘cute’ on X. Despite turning 30 in June, Yamamoto has a unique charm.” (TV personality watcher)

 

Since April, Yamamoto has become a new regular on “THE TRAD,” a music program on TOKYO FM hosted by Goro Inagaki. 

“Yoshida Akiyo, who was also from TBS and worked as an assistant called ‘dedicated staff’ since the fall of 2019, was highly trusted by Inagaki. Despite the pandemic leading to many remote guest appearances, Inagaki praised Yoshida’s excellent guest handling, and the pair were beloved by listeners for nearly five years, even through Yoshida’s maternity leave.” (radio director)

Given this, Inagaki might still be adjusting to the new dynamic with Yamamoto, as their rhythm sometimes doesn’t quite align. However, Yamamoto’s rapport with the staff is reportedly good.

“During her time at TBS, Yamamoto had regular roles on popular shows like ‘Sunday Japon,’ ‘Bakusho! THE Friday,’ and ‘Job Tune.’ Although she has a cute and flashy appearance, she is more of a behind-the-scenes type who excels at handling the program’s flow. This might be why her name doesn’t immediately come to mind when thinking of the show.” (TV watcher)

Compared to previous announcers like Yuko Aoki, Minami Tanaka, and Akiyo Yoshida, Yamamoto’s character is somewhat less distinctive.

 

 

“Yamamoto doesn’t have the standout character like Aoki or Tanaka, but that’s actually made her more acceptable to many staff members. She focuses on supporting talent and effectively handling transitions from predecessors. In terms of being a lead announcer, she is well-suited.

 

Staff who have worked with her praise her for being considerate. That’s why, whether as a network announcer or freelancer, she is often the first choice when a predecessor leaves or takes maternity leave. Some in the industry even call her the ‘Queen of Handovers.’”(Broadcast writer)

 

Rina Yamamoto, currently with Cent Force, represents a balance between the “elegant” image of former announcers like Aiko Kaito and the more outspoken personalities of recent stars like Aika Kanda and Hiromi Kawata. 

 

“Yamamoto’s background with TBS, where she was trained by prominent figures such as Bakusho Mondai and Neptune, combined with her post-marriage roles on shows like ‘Gogo Smile’ and ‘Hiruobi,’ makes her well-suited for her current role. Her smooth transition into ‘THE TRAD’ with Inagaki should see quick success.” (says a source)

 

By not overshadowing the main host and managing her role efficiently, Yamamoto stands out as a ‘Queen of Handovers.’ In a field where many freelance announcers struggle, her balanced approach could lead to considerable success.