[EPN Enpinow reporter Go Nari] Hikari Mitsushima, a leading actress in Japan, announced on April 5 that she has remarried and is expecting a child.
On March 30, Mitsushima revealed via her personal account that she and model Keisuke Asano, who is eight years her junior, completed their marriage registration.
She disclosed the pregnancy alongside the marriage news, writing, "There is a new life," and explaining how her circumstances have changed.
Mitsushima said she has been surrounded by warm support and is making her physical and mental well‑being a priority as she enjoys this happy time. She asked for continued support and thanked fans for watching over her warmly.
Expressing her affection for Asano, she added, "Life with you feels lovely and softer. The days ahead as we become parents already feel special."
Mitsushima made her entertainment debut in 1997 as a member of the seven‑member mixed group Folder, which later reformed as Folder 5. The group concluded its activities after releasing "Believe," the second opening theme for the anime One Piece.
She then transitioned to acting and has earned acclaim for performances in films and dramas such as Love Exposure, Sawako Decides!, Still, We Live, Woman, Sorry, Youth!, Quartet, The Prison's Princess, Life and Death on the Beach, and 10 Counts Toward the Future.
In 2022, she captured Korean and international viewers alike as Yae Noguchi, the lead in the Netflix series First Love Hatsukoi.
Photo: Hikari Mitsushima
