Haruna Kojima Announces Marriage and First Child, Plans Podcast Return Around January

A birth announcement followed by marriage news

Haruna Kojima, the former AKB48 member who now works as a model and entrepreneur, announced on November 7, 2026, that she had given birth to her first child and registered her marriage. The 38 year old said she and her baby were healthy and spending peaceful days together.

Kojima shared her statement on X and Instagram, putting the birth first and the marriage announcement afterward. She explained that she had wanted to wait until her child had arrived safely before telling the public, bringing both developments together in a single message.

The announcement also gave new context to a podcast break she had discussed on October 28. Fellow former AKB48 member Minami Minegishi was to take over her appearances from November, with Kojima expecting to return around January.

Kojima did not disclose her husband's identity, how they met, the dates of the marriage or birth, or the baby's sex. Her message focused instead on her family's health, gratitude toward the people supporting her, and her intention to continue working.

Why she waited to tell fans

Kojima, who joined AKB48 in 2005 and left the group in 2017, explained the timing herself. In her written announcement, she said, in an English translation of her Japanese statement:

I wanted to tell everyone after safely giving birth, which is why I am sharing the news at this time.

She then described how she and her child were doing:

Thanks to everyone's support, both my baby and I are healthy, and we are spending peaceful days together.

Fans therefore learned about the pregnancy only after the birth. Many reacted with surprise because Kojima had continued posting photographs on Instagram. Congratulations quickly spread across social media, where followers addressed her by the familiar nickname Kojiharu and celebrated her becoming a mother.

A podcast break before the announcement

Kojima had already arranged a pause from her Wednesday role on the podcast Lightning Catapult. During its October 28 episode, Minegishi appeared as a guest, and the two discussed Kojima taking some time away.

Kojima introduced the break by explaining that she was especially busy. In translation, she told listeners:

Actually, I'm thinking of taking a short break from Lightning Catapult. Things are a little hectic.

Minegishi responded that Kojima was usually busy anyway. Kojima said things were even more hectic than usual and suggested she would be unable to take part for the rest of the year.

Minegishi was announced as her replacement from November. Near the end of the episode, she asked whether Kojima could return after the new year, mentioning January. Kojima replied, in translation:

I'm planning to do it around then.

January 2027 is therefore the approximate return window she discussed, rather than a confirmed date for a particular episode. The arrangement gives the podcast a substitute host while Kojima spends time with her family.

No Sleeves members celebrate together

Minami Takahashi and Minegishi, Kojima's partners in the three member music unit No Sleeves, were among those who publicly congratulated her. Kojima's announcement means all three members have married.

Takahashi, 35, posted congratulations on Instagram and X. Her Instagram message celebrated both pieces of news, wished Kojima happiness and acknowledged the effort of childbirth.

Minegishi combined congratulations with encouragement to rest. She also referred directly to taking care of Lightning Catapult during Kojima's absence, connecting her public message of support with the practical arrangements already made for the programme.

Other former AKB48 colleagues joined them. Mariko Shinoda congratulated Kojima on becoming a mother, while Megumi Ohori sent congratulations and urged her to take care of her health. The messages brought together former group members whose relationships have continued beyond their years performing in AKB48.

From an original member to a leading performer

Kojima entered AKB48 as a member of its first generation in 2005. Her career with the group lasted until her graduation in 2017, a span of about 12 years. In Japanese idol groups, graduation means leaving the group to move into another stage of a career or personal life.

Her popularity was reflected in AKB48's early selection elections, events in which fans voted for members. She placed sixth in the first election in 2009 and seventh in the second in 2010.

Kojima became known as one of the original Kami 7, a nickname for seven especially popular members. The other six were Atsuko Maeda, Yuko Oshima, Minami Takahashi, Tomomi Itano, Mariko Shinoda and Mayu Watanabe.

In 2013, Kojima took the center position for the single Heart Ereki. The center is the featured performer at the middle of a song's formation, usually receiving particular attention in its presentation. She also held that position for Green Flash, sharing it with Yuki Kashiwagi, and for Shoot Sign.

Her marriage announcement adds another personal milestone among that original group of seven. All six who remain active in entertainment have now experienced marriage. Watanabe has retired from entertainment. Maeda later divorced, while Shinoda divorced and subsequently remarried.

A business career she intends to continue

Kojima's work since leaving AKB48 has extended beyond modelling and television appearances. She serves as representative director and CCO of the lifestyle brand Her lip to, combining a company leadership position with responsibility for its creative direction.

Her announcement thanked the people involved in both sides of her working life. She addressed fans who regularly support her, people connected with her work, and company colleagues who work alongside her.

Kojima said the experience had renewed her awareness of how many people support her. She then set out her intention for her career, saying in translation:

I will approach my work more earnestly than ever and continue to improve.

The statement places continued work alongside her new family responsibilities. Her podcast break is the specific change to her public schedule that she had discussed, with Minegishi providing cover during that period.

The dates behind the announcement

Kojima's news brought together a long public career and a much more recent change in her schedule. The main dates show how the announcement followed her decision to step back temporarily from the podcast:

• 2005: Kojima joined AKB48 as a first generation member.
• 2009 and 2010: She placed sixth and seventh in the group's first two selection elections.
• 2013: She first served as center on a single with Heart Ereki.
• 2017: She graduated from AKB48.
• October 28, 2026: She discussed taking a break from Lightning Catapult, with Minegishi stepping in from November.
• November 7, 2026: She announced her marriage and the birth of her first child.
• Around January 2027: She expects to return to the podcast.

The October conversation gave listeners advance notice of her absence. Her November statement then supplied the personal news she had chosen to share after the birth.

More marriage announcements among AKB48 alumni

Kojima's announcement came during a year in which several other former members of AKB48 and its related groups announced marriages. The developments span different generations of performers and careers after leaving their groups.

In January, Jurina Matsui, formerly a member of SKE48 who also held a concurrent position in AKB48, announced her marriage to BOYS AND MEN member Tatsunori Tsujimoto. Former AKB48 member Rira Miyazato also announced her marriage and the birth of a child that month.

Shinoda announced her remarriage in March, followed by Misato Nonaka's marriage announcement in April. Asuka Kuramochi announced hers in June from a professional wrestling ring, and Natsumi Hirajima shared marriage news in July.

Maria Abe, who also performed with Taiwan's AKB48 Team TP, announced her marriage and first pregnancy in September. Mayumi Uchida and Ayana Shinozaki announced marriages in October. Uchida, like Kojima, has combined entertainment with business, opening the restaurant Yakiniku IWA in 2014 while still in AKB48.

Fans recall a television prediction

Kojima's announcement also revived a recurring joke associated with the TBS special Quiz: Are You Right in a Year? The programme asks participants to predict events and later checks what happened.

Comedian Hiroaki Ogi, who is friends with Kojima, had repeatedly named her when predicting which celebrities might marry. Fans returned to those predictions after her announcement, posting hopes that he had selected her again and might receive points.

The reaction added a familiar television reference to the congratulations. Other followers focused on the change from seeing Kojima as an AKB48 performer to learning that she had become a parent. Across those responses, the central news remained the update she chose to give herself: her child had arrived, both were healthy, and she was enjoying quiet days with her family.

Key Points

• Haruna Kojima announced her marriage and the birth of her first child on November 7, 2026.
• The former AKB48 member, 38, said she and her baby were healthy.
• She waited until after the birth to share the news and kept further family details private.
• Minami Minegishi is covering her podcast appearances, with Kojima expecting to return around January 2027.
• All three members of No Sleeves have now married.
• Kojima thanked fans and colleagues and said she intended to continue working.