Ai Fukuhara Announces Remarriage and Pregnancy Smiling Again After a Long Time

The “Ai-chan” smile seen again after a long time

<“Maybe married life would go well with Mr. A”>

Ai Fukuhara (37), known as the idol of the table tennis world, spoke in an exclusive interview with Josei Seven Plus on December 22, ’25, and revealed that she had remarried and is expecting a child.

According to the article, the Mr. A Fukuhara remarried is the same general man who was reported by the magazine in ’21 as being involved in a two-night, three-day hometown affair.

After the Rio Olympics in September ’16, Fukuhara married Taiwanese table tennis player Chiang Hung-chieh (37), and in October ’18 she announced her retirement. She was blessed with two children and lived in Taiwan.

“My marriage with Mr. Chiang did not last long, and in ’20 she decided to divorce. She established her own company and returned temporarily to Japan for the procedures and for her future life here. During that time, in February ’21, her two-night, three-day date in Yokohama with Mr. A was reported. Mr. A is a Waseda University graduate and works for a major trading company, and Fukuhara explained that he was just one of her close friends. But this report shocked the public so much that it significantly lowered her previously high favorability rating,” said a sports newspaper reporter.

Although the divorce from Mr. Chiang was finalized in July ’21, Fukuhara later faced criminal complaints regarding the custody of her children. In the end, she and Chiang reached a settlement in March ’24 to maintain joint custody, but Fukuhara rarely appeared in Japanese media with a smile as she once did.

In the interview, Fukuhara stated:

<“First, through this series of incidents, I caused great trouble to so many people—those in my work circle, Mr. A’s family and people around him, my own family I would like to take this opportunity to apologize again. I am truly sorry.”>

She then spoke about her relationship with Mr. A, explaining that it led to their marriage. Regarding their current life together, she said:

<“We can speak honestly with each other and listen carefully to one another. In everyday life, he’ll say things like, ‘The new Baskin-Robbins flavor is out,’ and buy me ice cream at the convenience store. I feel supported by those little acts of kindness in daily life.”>

During the interview, Fukuhara placed both hands over her large belly, wearing a gentle smile. It was the familiar “Ai-chan” smile that we all know so well.

A smile full of happiness shown at her retirement press conference

The first time our magazine saw Fukuhara smiling in private was back in ’08. At that time, 20-year-old Fukuhara was enjoying a Harajuku date with 18-year-old tennis player Kei Nishikori (35). The two laughed together, and on the Yamanote Line platform, they were so affectionate they shared a passionate kiss.

At her retirement press conference in October ’18, when asked about her married life, she replied:

“My husband, Chiang Hung-chieh, treats me very well, and I live a very happy life.”

Regarding her only daughter, she said:

“I want to keep it a secret that I was a professional athlete. I want her to go to the hot spring table tennis and ask, ‘How can my mom do this?’”

She showed a smile overflowing with happiness. Fukuhara, now blessed with new happiness through remarriage and pregnancy, may give viewers more opportunities to see her smile on TV next year.