Aya Ueto Timeless Charm Stunning Photos as She Turns 40

Always cute

“Cannot believe I’m turning 40 this year—”

On March 28, Aya Ueto (39) threw the first pitch at a Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks game. Dressed in the Hawks’ uniform, she winded up and threw the ball. Though it bounced once, it landed firmly in the catcher’s mitt, earning a thunderous round of applause from the crowd.

For Ueto, this was her third time throwing the first pitch, so she was quite experienced. Before she knew it, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks were celebrating their 20th anniversary since their founding, and Ueto would be turning 40 in September. This revelation sparked comments on social media, such as “Always cute,” “Can’t believe she’s really 39! She looks unchanged, it’s surprising,” and more.

Ueto first caught the public’s attention in 1997 when she won the Jury’s Special Prize at the 7th National Beautiful Girl Contest hosted by Oscar Promotion while in sixth grade. She entered the agency and in October 2001, she made waves by portraying a student with gender identity disorder in the sixth season of “3rd Year B Class Kinpachi Sensei.” She went on to star in many dramas as an idol actor, gaining immense popularity. To date, she has ranked first in the Talent CM Usage Company Ranking six times (according to a TV magazine writer).

In her personal life, Ueto married HIRO (55) from EXILE in 2012, and she is also a mother of three siblings.

FRIDAY has been following Ueto since she entered high school. They have covered various moments of her life, including her appearance at 20 on the “National Beautiful Girl Contest” as a presenter and her adult look in a Chinese dress. They also reported on her as a mother, strolling with her two children on her days off. Among the most memorable moments was Ueto’s radiant smile when she appeared at a movie event just nine days before her wedding. This special collection of photos will reflect on the 20 years of her “unchanged” charm.

A smile just before marriage

On September 5, 2012, Aya Ueto appeared at a press conference in Tokyo for her appointment as the navigator for the movie Cirque du Soleil 3D: Worlds Away. She wore a pure white dress that resembled a wedding gown, exuding a dazzling elegance.

At the conference, the media’s attention was not so much on the movie, but rather on her relationship with HIRO, who was said to be on the verge of marriage.

In October 2010, their relationship was first reported by sports newspapers, and in January 2011, FRIDAY reported that they were seen entering a high-rise building in Tokyo at different times. However, just before the press conference, rumors of a breakup surfaced, drawing more attention.

When a reporter asked, “Is your relationship going well?” Aya Ueto replied with a radiant smile, “Yes, thank you.” Nine days later, on April 14, their marriage was officially announced.

In an interview published on October 19, 2024, by BIST, when asked about her views on beautiful people, Ueto said,

“I don’t have much confidence in myself, but it’s nice to hear people say, ‘You haven’t changed’ or ‘You look young.’ Since I had my third child, my standard of beauty has changed. I now think that a pure heart, not just outer appearance, is what makes someone truly beautiful.”

In late March, her new CM for Marugame Seimen aired, followed by a new AOKI CM in April, where she showcased her pure beauty. As she approaches her 40th birthday in September this year, there’s a chance she could make a comeback as a CM queen.