1. Overview
Rika Asano, born on January 7, 1994, is a prominent Japanese announcer affiliated with NHK. Her career at NHK began in 2016, leading her through assignments at the NHK Matsue Broadcasting Station and NHK Sapporo Broadcasting Station before her relocation to the Tokyo Announcer Room. Asano is widely recognized for her roles as an assistant host on the popular geological program Bura Tamori, as the host of the genealogical program Family History, and as a presenter for the music program Hayauta. Beyond her professional endeavors, public information includes her marriage in 2023 and the announcement of her first pregnancy in early 2024.
2. Early Life and Education
2.1. Birth and Upbringing
Rika Asano was born on January 7, 1994. While some sources indicate her birthplace as Tokyo, Japan, other accounts state she was born in Ehime Prefecture and raised in Tokyo.
2.2. Education
Asano pursued her higher education at the University of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo. She graduated in March 2016 from the Faculty of Literature, which is now known as the Faculty of Contemporary Liberal Arts, specializing in International Exchange.
3. NHK Career
Rika Asano's career at NHK began in April 2016, immediately following her graduation from university. Her journey as an announcer saw her stationed in various regions across Japan before her eventual move to Tokyo.
3.1. Joining NHK and Matsue Broadcasting Station
After joining NHK in April 2016, Asano's first assignment was to the NHK Matsue Broadcasting Station in Shimane Prefecture, where she began her work as an announcer in June 2016. During her tenure in Matsue, she was involved in local news reporting, live relays, and general reporting duties. She also served as a navigator for the program "Nihon no Matsuri" (Japanese Festivals) in November 2017. She remained at the Matsue station until July 2018.
3.2. Sapporo Broadcasting Station
In August 2018, Asano was transferred to the NHK Sapporo Broadcasting Station in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Here, she continued to report on local news and conduct live relays from across Hokkaido. A significant role she undertook was becoming an anchor for the local infotainment program Hokkaido Close-up, a position she held from April 5, 2019, until March 2020. She also occasionally appeared as a correspondent in news programs broadcast from Hokkaido. Her other assignments during this period included being a traveler on "Ippon no Michi: Greece, Beyond the Mountains, Along the Stone Paved Road to the Farthest End" in January 2019. She also provided narration for several episodes of Sawayaka Shizen Hyakkei (Refreshing Nature Scenery), including "Winter Hokkaido Biei" (March 2019), "Hokkaido Wakka Primeval Flower Garden" (July 2019), and "Autumn Hokkaido Cape Erimo" (October 2019). Additionally, she served as a studio announcer for the "Para Athletics World Championships 2019" from November 7 to November 15, 2019.
3.3. Tokyo Announcer Room
Asano relocated to the Tokyo Announcer Room in March 2020, with her new assignments commencing in April 2020. Upon her move, she became a reporter and field caster for the local news program Shutoken Network, a role she maintained until March 31, 2023. During this period, she also served as a substitute anchor for the program, filling in for Risa Hayashida and Miki Uehara on various occasions.
4. Major Programs and Roles
Rika Asano has hosted or played significant roles in several prominent NHK programs, showcasing her versatility as an announcer.
4.1. Bura Tamori
Asano gained widespread recognition as the sixth assistant host for the popular NHK geological exploration program Bura Tamori. She took over the role from Risa Hayashida, with her first appearance airing on April 11, 2020. Her tenure on the program concluded on April 2, 2022. During her time on Bura Tamori, she traveled to various locations across Japan with host Tamori, exploring their geological and cultural histories.
4.2. Family History
Following her departure from Bura Tamori, Asano transitioned to hosting the genealogical program Family History. She served as the main host for the program from April 18, 2022, to March 22, 2023.
4.3. Hayauta
Rika Asano also served as the host for the music program Hayauta. Her hosting duties for this program began on April 11, 2022, and concluded on February 19, 2024.
4.4. Other Notable Appearances
Asano's career includes a diverse range of other notable appearances and roles across various NHK productions:
- Narration:** She continued to provide narration for Sawayaka Shizen Hyakkei even after moving to Tokyo, including episodes like "Niigata Fukushimagata" (August 2020), "Lower Tone River" (March 2021), and "Yamaguchi Aomi Island Spring to Autumn" (January 2024). She also narrated "Active 10 Masu to! 'Congruent Figures'" on E Tele in January 2021 and Nippon Hyakuteizan (One Hundred Low Mountains of Japan) from August 2022, occasionally appearing as a guest, such as in the "Mount Sanbe, Shimane" episode in July 2023.
- Special Programs:** She was a reporter for NHK Special episode "How to Overcome the 'Infection Explosion' Crisis" in January 2021 and hosted "New Hazard Map: Comprehensive Review of Flood Risk" in June 2022. She also participated in "Tamori x Tsurube New Year SP2021," a joint special between Bura Tamori and Tsurube no Kazoku ni Kanpai (Tsurube's Family Cheers) in January 2021.
- Music and Entertainment:** Asano was involved in the progress of "Kyo wa Ichinichi 'BanG Dream!' Zanmai" (A Whole Day of BanG Dream!) in April 2020. She served as the radio relay announcer for the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen (NHK Red and White Song Festival) for both the 72nd edition in December 2021 and the 73rd edition in December 2022.
- Science and Education:** She hosted multiple installments of "Sekai! Omishiro Gakusha no Sugo Douga Matsuri" (World! Amazing Scholars' Great Video Festival), including parts 4 (October 2022), 5 (March 2023), 6 (August 2023), and 7 (January 2024).
- Morning Program:** From April 2023 to January 2024, she worked as a reporter for the morning information program Asaichi.
5. Personal Life
In January 2024, it was publicly revealed that Rika Asano had married a man outside the entertainment industry in the previous year. At the same time, it was announced that she was expecting her first child. Following these revelations, she took a leave of absence from her professional duties.
6. Public Image and Anecdotes
Rika Asano's public image is shaped by her professional demeanor and various personal anecdotes.
Her hobbies include playing tennis, a sport she has pursued since the age of 10, reportedly inspired by the manga and anime series Ace wo Nerae! (Aim for the Ace!). She also enjoys the tea ceremony, which she began practicing during her first assignment in Matsue, and has a talent for bread making. Her personal motto is 有終の美を飾るYūshū no bi o kazaruJapanese, which translates to "To conclude with a flourish" or "To end on a high note."
During her final appearance on Bura Tamori, host Tamori reportedly remarked to her, "You love to travel, don't you? Your smile on trips is amazing." This interaction highlighted her apparent enjoyment of her role on the program and her positive on-screen presence.