Actress Esumi Makiko (37) is expecting her first baby this winter. She married 38-year old Fuji TV director Hirano Shin in January of last year and made the happy announcement amidst the publicity for her latest movie. She will star alongside Nishida Toshiyuki (56) in the 15th episode of the “Tsuri Baka” (Fishing Fool) series. Esumi and Hirano met on the set of the popular comedy-drama series “Shomuni.” They married just two and a half months after they started going out.
• Popular TBS announcer Ogura Hiroko (29) has been chosen to host the evening news show “News no Mori” from the end of next month. Ogura has been a main reporter for TBS on the Olympics. Alongside her will be Ikeda Hiroyuki (48).