[Part 1] TV Pros Decide the Top Female Free Announcer of Reiwa!
Unlike network announcers, freelance announcers can earn annual incomes in the hundreds of millions if they succeed.
In recent years, key announcers from various networks, such as Ayaka Ogawa (39) from TV Asahi, Natsumi Uga (38), and Akiyo Yoshida (36) from TBS, have been making the switch to freelancing. While hiring freelance announcers comes with high appearance fees, television networks benefit from their combination of skill and recognition, which can help boost ratings.
This time, FRIDAY invited four industry professionals to discuss who the strongest freelance female announcer of the Reiwa era is: Producer A from a key network news program, Mid-level Director B, Production Company Staff Member C, and Key Network Programming Executive D.
A: Compared to her Fuji TV days, her exposure has decreased, but Aya Takashima (45) still stands out in terms of both popularity and ability. Koji Imada (58), who co-starred with her in Monomane Kohaku Utagassen Special (Fuji TV), once said off-camera, “The most trustworthy announcer is Takashima-san,” highlighting the immense trust she has earned from her co-stars.
She is on a different level compared to commercial network announcers
B: I’ve worked with many announcers, but I’ve never seen someone as hardworking as Takashima. When she was in charge of a morning live program, I was impressed by how she meticulously checked the script while the other cast members were chatting. Even during makeup or commercial breaks, she would use every spare moment to go over her script, practicing her pronunciation and intonation.
C: Lately, she seems to be concerned about scandals involving her former network. I’ve heard she apologizes to staff, saying, “Sorry for all the trouble Fuji has caused.” That kind of consideration is one of the reasons she is so well-loved.
D: Speaking of veteran announcers who don’t act high and mighty, Yumiko Udō (55), who went independent from NHK in 2018, is also highly regarded by staff.
C: Udō started her own program, Udō Times (TV Asahi), last year, and she’s so dedicated to her work that she actively participates in planning meetings she doesn’t even need to attend. Udō Times has been achieving household viewership ratings of 5–7%, nearly matching its predecessor, Sunday Station. During election specials, it even ranked as the top commercial network program in its time slot. TV Asahi’s executives hold her in very high esteem.
A: With years of experience at NHK, her reporting and announcing skills are on another level. I once saw her bring an enormous amount of research material to a news program meeting—it really showed the difference between her and commercial network announcers.
B: Ayaka Ogawa, who went freelance from TV Asahi, is becoming the face of news at TBS, surpassing their in-house announcers.
D: Ogawa is, for better or worse, exactly as serious as she appears on screen. Her willingness to confront issues like Masahiro Nakai’s (52) scandals and the sexual misconduct case involving a former chief prosecutor of the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office has earned her strong support from women of her generation. She’s incredibly disciplined—I’ve heard she records and reviews her own shows multiple times.
C: While she speaks her mind without hesitation, there are times when her strong opinions get ahead of her and disrupt the flow of the program. Considering her somewhat rigid image, which makes her less suited for variety or music programs, she’s still not quite on the same level as Takashima or Udō.
