[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.

Better than our in-house announcers

A: While she didn’t start as a network announcer, it might be more accurate to call Chiaki Horan (36) a freelance newscaster. TBS considers her to be on par with Ayaka Ogawa. Since April 2017, she has served as the face of N-Sta (TBS), a position she has held for nearly eight years.

Horan’s script-reading skills are highly regarded in the industry, with some TV professionals jokingly saying, ‘ShB: e’s far better than our own network announcers.’ I can hardly recall a time when she stumbled over her words, and she handles sudden breaking news with composure. Her departure from N-Sta in March has been finalized, and I heard that TBS made every effort to persuade her to stay, but her decision remained firm. She once remarked, ‘I could never be like Ogawa,’ but now she’s proving herself to be just as capable. After N-Sta, she’s likely to receive numerous offers as a newscaster and MC from various networks.

C: Horan is a perfectionist. If there’s something she doesn’t understand during a pre-production meeting, she won’t stop asking questions until she’s completely satisfied. She expects the same level of preparation from the staff, which can be tough on them, but ultimately, it raises the morale of the entire team.

D: Recently, Takako Zenba (49), who has an exclusive contract with TBS, has been overshadowed by Ogawa and Horan.

A: Zenba was originally praised for her ability to express her beliefs clearly. She was even chosen as an MC for Hōdō no Hi 2024 at the end of last year. However, lately, she has been making uncharacteristic mistakes, such as mispronouncing guests’ names and titles on live broadcasts. A senior executive at TBS once grumbled, ‘Zenba is quite particular about her paycheck,’ so the network may be considering passing the baton to the younger generation, like Ogawa and Horan.

B: How about Yumi Tokunaga (49), who is the same age as Zenba?

D: Personally, I hold Tokunaga in high regard. She is incredibly diligent, making sure to read every book and past interview of her interviewees. Despite the controversy of her affair-turned-marriage with Teruyoshi Uchimura (60), she was entrusted with the anchor position on Hōdō Station (TV Asahi), which is proof of her talent as a newscaster.

C: When I worked with Tokunaga on a live broadcast, there was an incident where the pre-prepared VTR failed to play. Without hesitation, she seamlessly filled the time by engaging in impromptu discussion with the other panelists. The entire staff was in awe of her seasoned professionalism.

A: What about Aiko Kaitō (41), who transitioned from being a weathercaster to the main host of Mezamashi Doyōbi (Fuji TV)?

B: Above all, her beauty is a major asset, making her immensely popular among male viewers. She even goes the extra mile, such as dressing up in high school uniforms to entertain audiences. On top of that, her language and manners are exceptionally refined.

D: Since experiencing sudden hearing loss in 2021, she has been reducing her workload, but there are many in the industry eager to see her make a full return.

C: Similarly, Erina Arai (35), who also rose to prominence from being a weathercaster, returned from maternity leave in January 2024 and is making a strong comeback.

B: In her 20s, she was frequently seen expressing her frustration over not being hired by a key station during announcer recruitment. Despite struggling through tough times, she persisted—practicing script reading at home and actively pitching ideas at meetings. Eventually, she secured the main anchor role on Good! Morning (TV Asahi). Since her return, she has also been valued as a host on variety shows like Naze Soko? (TV Tokyo).

In the next installment, we’ll highlight freelance announcers from Kansai making a name for themselves and finally reveal the No.1 “Strongest Freelance Female Announcer of the Reiwa Era”!

Part 2: “Reiwa’s Strongest Female Freelance Announcer” – After a heated debate, the “No. 1 in terms of ability” is decided!

From the February 14, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”