Mariko Ōe May Step Back from TV After Final Online Appearance on Upper House Election Program
Possibility of a career as a freelance announcer
At the end of June, Mariko Ōe (46) left TV Tokyo after 24 years with the network.
“Lately, many female announcers have been leaving TV Tokyo, but Ōe’s departure is different from those in their 20s or early 30s. Since joining in 2001, she appeared on the network’s popular programs such as Shutsumotsu! Adomachiikku Tengoku and Moyamoya Summers 2, gaining popularity. In April 2013, she was assigned to the New York bureau.
She regularly sent reports to news programs and handled overseas coverage for specials. On March 31, 2014, she succeeded Maoko Kotani (60) as the main anchor of World Business Satellite. When asked ‘Who is the face of TV Tokyo’s female announcers?’ everyone would name her — she became the network’s signature announcer,” said a producer from a commercial TV information program.
From TV Tokyo, announcers like Keiko Yashio (55) in earlier years and more recently Yuki Matsumaru (44), Sayaka Suguro (40), and Kasumi Mori (30) have all flourished as freelance announcers.
Even more than them, Ōe is said to be capable of handling both hard and soft programs, and she is known to have an overwhelmingly large male fan base. Because of that, voices both within and outside the industry are naturally calling for her to “thrive as a freelance announcer.”
“But I’ve heard that won’t happen,”
says one TV Tokyo insider, shaking their head.
”I have turned down all offers of work.”
After leaving the company, Ms. Ōe seems to be enjoying things she couldn’t do or places she couldn’t go during her time as a station announcer. In September 2014, she married Mr. Oki Matsumoto (61), the founding president of Monex Securities, but there was no shortage of criticism about a TV Tokyo announcer, who handled economic news, marrying the head of a securities firm. Perhaps due to that, it seems they were unable to go out together in public very often.
However, once she left the station, such reservations were no longer necessary. The couple’s closeness is well known, and according to someone familiar with them, they now greatly cherish the opportunities to go out together. It seems they want to travel abroad, which they hadn’t been able to do much before, and attend events together without worrying about being seen. Reportedly, they have already declined all the job offers they’ve received.
Furthermore, they have apparently also put a pause on the volunteer activities they had participated in as a couple. Ms. Ōe has been telling those around her that she simply wants to take it slow, and Mr. Matsumoto understands this and has decided to treasure their time together as a couple. Amid all this, the only confirmed engagement is:
“A streaming program related to the House of Councillors election, which will be held on July 20. Ms. Ōe’s appearance has not been officially announced, so it will likely be a surprise appearance. It seems she just couldn’t turn down a request from her former station,” said a TV Tokyo insider.
Currently, the regular segment “The Pursuit” on World Business Satellite is running a two-week special on the Upper House election. Given this context, interviews with prominent figures are likely to be featured.
When asked, TV Tokyo responded:
“Ms. Mariko Ōe will appear in pre-recorded streaming content. She resonated with the importance of pre-election reporting and agreed to appear in the streaming content Election Satellite 2025’s ‘The Way of One Vote.’
From her perspective of having been involved in election specials for over ten years, she speaks about watching the election battle as a viewer this time, as well as her thoughts on pre-election coverage. She also reveals which politicians she found formidable in past interviews.”
The program is scheduled for streaming at 9:00 p.m. on July 18. Since there’s a high possibility that this will be her last appearance on television for a while, it’s likely to be a must-watch for her fans.
