TOKYO (TR) – Former TBS announcer Rina Yamamoto has announced her divorce from her non-celebrity husband, a man famously dubbed the “Red Benz Prince” by local media.
In an August 6 Instagram post, the 32-year-old freelance broadcaster revealed the split, framing it as an amicable and “positive decision” free of any infidelity or scandalous disputes.
“After many discussions as a couple, we have decided to go our separate ways,” Yamamoto wrote to her followers. “The path we walked together is a treasure… Because this is a positive decision, we remain important to each other and want to continue supporting one another just as before.”
Yamamoto married the man, who is two years her senior, in March 2022 while she was serving as the seventh-generation assistant on the popular TBS program Sunday Japon. At the time, tabloids widely reported that her new husband was an elite salaryman working for a foreign financial firm. His penchant for driving a red Mercedes-Benz quickly earned him the flashy moniker “Red Benz Prince” among fans and the press. The pair originally met at a matchmaking drinking party (gokon) organized by a mutual friend.
While the separation appears peaceful, industry observers suggest that a clash in lifestyles and shifting values ultimately doomed the marriage, according to Zakzak (Aug. 6).
Yamamoto has undergone significant professional changes in recent months. In October 2023, she resigned from TBS after seven and a half years with the network. The following month, she signed with Cent Force—a major entertainment agency known for managing top-tier freelance announcers—and drastically expanded her broadcasting activities. The demanding schedule and transition into her new freelance environment reportedly caused the couple to drift apart.
Signaling a sharp focus on her newly independent career, Yamamoto concluded her announcement with a vow to her fans: “I will devote myself to my work and make greater efforts than ever before.”
