Yumiko Udo (有働 由美子, Udō Yumiko, born March 22, 1969) is a Japanese journalist, television reporter, television personality, and former NHK Announcer.

Yumiko Udo
Born (1969-03-22) 22 March 1969 (age 55)
EducationKobe College
Occupations
  • journalist
  • news anchor
  • television presenter
Years active1991–present
AgentNatural Eight
Notable credit(s)Hit Me Anyone One More Time (2019), newscaster
Television

Early years

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Udo was born in Ijūin Town (now Hioki City), Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.[1] At an early age she moved to Osaka, where she grew up. Failing to pass the entrance examination for Osaka University, she eventually went on to Kobe College instead.[2] She was hired by NHK in 1991.

Her hobbies included reading, traveling and cooking. Also, she was a good kendo player and a licensee of the second grade of it from the All Japan Kendo Federation. She belonged to the kendo club when she was a junior and senior high school student.

Career

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Spending a few years as a cub sports reporter at the NHK Osaka Branch, Udo moved to Tokyo and became a news anchor for NHK News Ohayō Nippon in 1994. She worked at Saturday Sports, Sunday Sports and NHK News 10 as an anchor. She was involved in live coverage works in sport events and Olympic games.

Udo hosted NHK's New Year's Eve music concert Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

In 2006, Udo hosted an afternoon talk show Studio Park kara Konnichiwa.

In June 2007, Udo was moved to New York City as a correspondent. She stayed there for about two years and a half. She was promoted as Chief Announcer in June 2008.[3]

Returning to Tokyo, Udo was appointed as a main presenter for Asaichi in 2010 with Yoshihiko Inohara, a member of V6, one of Japan's most popular pop groups. Targeted mainly at women in their 40s, the show dealt with a wide variety of themes, from information about health and money, to infertility problems, menopausal disorders and the problem of sexless relationships.

Udo played the role of the leading host for Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

On March 30, 2018, Udo and Inohara left Asaichi, handing over to Yurie Omi and Hanamaru-Daikichi Hakata.[4] She resigned from NHK on March 31.[5]

Udo became news anchor of Nippon Television's nightly news program news zero in October 2018, role that ended in March 2024.[6][7]

On November 9, 2019, Udo was a host of the national festival held to mark Emperor Naruhito's enthronement.

Udo will host a music program on NTV, called "With MUSIC", starting April 2024."This is a full-fledged music program that will start on Nippon TV's Golden Belt for the first time in 34 years", she said about the program, which will focus, not only in live music, but also in the charm of the artists shining locally and abroad.[8][9]

Filmography

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Television
  • Ten Urara (1998), narrator
  • Sanadamaru (2016), narrator
Film

Book

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  • Udouroku (Shinchosha, 2014) ISBN 978-4103366317.

References

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  1. ^ 有働由美子、故郷・鹿児島で民放ローカル初出演「愛おしくなりました」. マイナビニュース (in Japanese). マイナビ. November 8, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  2. ^ "NHK有働アナ 父親から「美人ではないから浪人は許さない」". Rakuten WOMAN. October 28, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  3. ^ "NHK有働アナ、管理職昇進 2008年6月7日付". Sports Hochi.
  4. ^ "「あさイチ」ゆる締め…有働由美子アナ&イノッチ、8年間司会を務め卒業". Sankei News. March 31, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  5. ^ "NHK有働由美子アナが退職「海外で勉強」" [NHK's Announcer Udo resigns, wishing to study abroad.] (in Japanese). Mainichi Shimbun. April 3, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  6. ^ "有働由美子『news zero』来年3月卒業 後任は藤井貴彦アナ 『news every.』はダブルメインキャスターに". Oricon (in Japanese). 14 December 2023. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  7. ^ "有働由美子アナ『news zero』来年3月卒業を生報告…しかし"謝罪" 顔面負傷で自虐「すみませんでした」". Oricon (in Japanese). 14 December 2023. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  8. ^ "日本テレビ系土曜夜の音楽番組『with MUSIC』4月スタート!MCは有働由美子「みなさんと"一緒"になって音楽の魅力を探していく、感じていく番組に出来たら」". Nippon TV (NTV) (in Japanese). 15 January 2024. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  9. ^ "有働由美子、日テレ新音楽番組『with MUSIC』でMC 土曜夜2番組『世界一受けたい授業』『SHOWチャンネル』3月終了を正式発表". Oricon (in Japanese). 15 January 2024. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  10. ^ "有働由美子『孤狼の血』続編に"声の出演" ニッポン放送出演者陣が登場". Oricon. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
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Media offices
Preceded by NHK News Ohayō Nippon Anchor
1994–1997
Succeeded by
First Asaichi Anchor
2010–2018
Succeeded by
Preceded by news zero Anchor
2018–2024
Succeeded by