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Being a single woman in her 30s — especially a high-profile one like former AKB48 member Kojima Haruna — isn’t easy in Japan, where the pressure from society and netizens to “hurry up and get married” still lingers heavily.
But clearly, Kojiharu’s carving her own path, and she's in no rush to tick any boxes that don’t feel right for her.
Former AKB48 star turned entrepreneur Haruna Kojima (37) made a rare candid appearance on Fuji TV’s Bokura no Jidai this week, opening up about her thoughts on marriage, life after idolhood, and even admitting that not every conversation these days is exciting.
Joining comedian Nagano (50) and music producer Hyadain (44) — her old co-regulars from a daytime TV show about a decade ago — Kojiharu chatted about how her priorities have shifted massively over the years.
When Nagano cheekily asked if she had any desire to get married, Kojima laughed and said, “It’s not like I’m dead set on not getting married or anything. I don’t have some strong philosophy about it. It’s more like... if the timing’s right, maybe I’ll do it someday.”
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She explained that with so much on her plate — running her fashion business, supporting her staff, and juggling all the responsibilities that come with being a boss — her private life has taken a back seat.
"Recently, it’s like there’s just too much I want to do," she said.
"I’ve been carrying so much responsibility that I haven't really had space to focus on myself. But maybe, once things settle down a bit, I'll think about it properly."
Haruna Kojima also mused that for women, marriage can sometimes feel like a way to switch up life stages — not just romantically, but personally and professionally too.
"When you start feeling like you’re getting a bit bored of yourself, or you want to change how you’re seen, maybe that's when marriage happens. It’s like switching the type of work you do or refreshing your life’s vibe a bit," she reflected thoughtfully.
But Kojiharu didn’t stop there.
Speaking about life as a business owner, she got honest about her experiences interacting with non-celebrities.
Nagano jokingly asked if she ever found conversations with "normal" people boring now that she's outside of the entertainment bubble.
Laughing, Kojima Haruna admitted, “To be honest... yeah, sometimes the chat’s dead boring!” causing everyone on set to burst out laughing.
Still, she was quick to add that when she meets people who share her passions — especially in fashion and design — it’s different.
"It’s not like you need every conversation to have some big punchline or plot twist. As long as you like the same things, it’s fun."
Nagano agreed, saying it's tough when you have nothing in common with someone, but shared hobbies make all the difference.
Kojiharu smiled and nodded, adding, “Exactly.”