Hikaru Uchimura’s Marriage to Yumi Tokunaga and His 16-Year Comeback on Uchimura Produce

On September 28 at 10 p.m., “Celebration of Mitsuyoshi Uchimura’s 65th Anniversary” was held as a program to commemorate the 65th anniversary of TV Asahi’s opening of the station! Mitsuyoshi Uchimura 60th Anniversary Festival Uchimura Produce Revival SP! was broadcast from 10 p.m. on September 28.

The program was a variety show that began airing in 2000, and despite its popularity, it was cancelled in 2005. In 2008, a one-off special program was aired, but since then it has never been aired again, making it the first “revival” in 16 years.

There are many rumors as to how the popular program was abruptly terminated, but one of the rumored causes was the “affair” between Uchimura and announcer Yumi Tokunaga.

It was more than 20 years ago, so young people probably don’t know about it.

While discussing their marital relationship, they had an affair.

In April 2003, a weekly magazine reported their trip to a hot spring. At the time, Tokunaga was married to a fellow employee who was also a director at TV Asahi, which would have made his relationship with Uchimura an affair.

Uchimura and Tokunaga had been co-starring in “Uchimura Produce,” and the relationship deepened as Tokunaga, who had been having difficulties with her husband, talked to Uchimura about it.

As a result of the revelation of the affair, Tokunaga withdrew from “Uchimura Produce” and all other programs she was in charge of. In September of the same year, her divorce from her husband was finalized.

According to a TV Asahi official familiar with the situation at the time, “Tokunaga had an affair with a co-starring celebrity,

If she had an affair with one of her co-starring celebrities, she couldn’t just walk away. And she and her husband were colleagues in the same company.

Two years later, she and Uchimura remarried, but “Uchimura Produce” was cancelled that same year.

It is not clear whether the “adultery scandal” had any influence on the decision, but Tokunaga’s husband was in charge of a variety show at the time,

The station must have considered his feelings when deciding to leave TV Asahi,” said a source close to TV Asahi.

Since then, Uchimura has been “banned from TV Asahi” and has not appeared on any of the station’s programs.

On the other hand, in 2005, Tokunaga, who had become a housewife, returned to a news program on AbemaTV, a TV Asahi affiliate network, as an anchor for the first time in 11 years. She returned to TV Asahi.

Finally, in 2006, she returned to her old home completely. He became the MC of the flagship program “News Station.

Two years after the affair was revealed, he got married. ……

According to a reporter for a women’s weekly magazine,

I heard that Ms. Tokunaga is really popular within the station, especially among the “upper management” and they did not want her to quit. Ms. Uchimura was also well-liked by the staff and did not want to terminate the program, but she had to do so under the circumstances because of the complaints she received.

The staff hoped that both Uchimura and Uchimura would return to TV Asahi when things had cooled off. However, from Uchimura’s side, he did not think it would be so easy to return and kept his distance from the station. It was said that the reason why they selected Anna Tokunaga as MC for the flagship program was to try to create a foothold for Mr. Uchimura to come back, and it turned out to be a success.

The staff’s wish has been granted with the revival of “Uchi-P,” but the cause for concern has not completely disappeared.

Tokunaga’s ex-husband is still working at TV Asahi. It is an unnecessary concern, but wouldn’t it be awkward if the two met each other in the station? Some people have asked that,

When the affair was first revealed, the ex-husband seemed to hold a lot of grudge against Tokunaga and Uchimura, but I think he’s completely over it now. We rarely see each other at the station, but when we pass each other, we greet each other normally. And the fact that they are airing “Uchi P” on the 65th anniversary of the station makes me think that Mr. Uchimura has a special presence at the station. I think her ex-husband, as a TV person, would have to admit that.
(TV Asahi employee)

According to a producer in charge of variety programs at a key station, “All of Uchimura’s programs are popular,

According to a producer in charge of variety shows at a key station, “All of Uchimura’s programs are popular. Not only are they interesting, but the quality is very high. This is because Mr. Uchimura does not cut any corners. But that doesn’t mean he’s harsh on the staff or co-stars, and he brings out the best in each of them. He takes good care of them, so everyone really likes him. Many people want to work with him.

So, it is “human nature” that really counts in the end.