Former Sakurazaka46 Member Rika Watanabe Announces First Pregnancy

Article

A personal announcement

Rika Watanabe, a former member of Keyakizaka46 (which later became Sakurazaka46), announced on Instagram on September 12, 2026 that she is expecting her first child.

She wrote that she feels "loved and happy every day" watching the baby grow, and said she is looking forward to life ahead as a family of three.

Following a March marriage announcement

Watanabe had announced her marriage on March 4, 2026. No due date or other details have been disclosed at this time.

What To Know

Watanabe was one of the original members of what began as Keyakizaka46, and life milestones from alumni of that era carry deep, lasting significance for longtime fans who followed the group's earliest years.

It's common practice for former idol group members in Japan to share major personal milestones like marriage and pregnancy directly with fans via social media, often with the same warmth and care they showed during their time as performers.

What Fans Are Saying

Original Japanese

Easy Japanese

元・櫻坂46の渡辺梨加さんが、9月12日に「赤ちゃんができました」と発表しました。