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| How Yuuko Tsubakino Balanced Idol Life and Becoming a Certified Weather Forecaster (Tokyo MX) |
Yuuko, a member of underground idol unit Himemosu Orchestra, recently opened up about the long, bumpy road that brought her here — a tale of burnt-out studies, grief, near collapse, and an undying promise to her father that she’s now fulfilled, one weather chart at a time.
Idol dreams born from tears (and Neru-chan)
Back in her Kyoto prep school days, Yuuko was a straight-A science whizz — until she wasn’t. When she entered one of Kyoto’s top elite high schools, the workload floored her. Classes moved too fast, tests were brutal, and weekends weren’t for rest, but mock exams. “I used to cry walking to school,” she admits now.
What got her through? Idols. Specifically, Keyakizaka46’s Neru Nagahama. “She always faced things head-on. Even when she was hurting. Watching her, I thought, I want to be that kind of person too.”
By high school, she had her heart set on becoming an idol herself. In her third year, she secretly took a night bus from Kyoto to Tokyo to audition for the Sakamichi Series without telling her parents — just a note saying, I’m going to audition to be an idol. She didn’t make it, and her folks were not happy. Still, she didn’t let go of the dream.
Enter science, again – and weather takes the spotlight
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While recovering from the idol setback, she started to grow curious about the heat. “Kyoto summers are brutal,” she laughed. “But even the same temperature feels hotter there than elsewhere. I wanted to understand why.”
That curiosity led her to Ibaraki University, where she studied climate science — analysing El Niño and La Niña correlations with rainfall using Python. At the same time, she found her way back to the idol world by joining the newly formed Himemosu Orchestra during uni.
Her debut came mid-pandemic — no audience, just live-streams and long hours. “I once streamed for 16 hours straight just to connect with fans.” And all while commuting from Ibaraki to Tokyo for lives, often getting home at 1AM.
A father’s quiet love, and a silent goodbye
Then came 2022. Yuuko was juggling studies, lives, and the dream of becoming a certified weather forecaster — one of Japan’s toughest national exams with a pass rate of just 4%. Then she got a call. Her father had taken his own life.
“I was stunned. He was always quiet, serious — the kind of person who wouldn’t show it even if he was struggling. He’d fallen into depression from work pressures during COVID. I had no idea. I wish I’d noticed.”
She admits that at her lowest point, she didn’t want to go on either. But her mother told her: “If you go, too, your fans will be devastated.” That reminder pulled her back. Yuuko paused her idol activities for just two weeks — then stood back on stage, smiling through heartbreak, not telling a soul what had happened.
Healing others by sharing what was once hidden
For nearly two years, she kept her father’s death private. But in June 2024, she finally told the world: “I’m a survivor of suicide loss.” Why? Because over 10 of her fans had reached out about losing loved ones in the same way.
“They’d never told anyone before,” she says. “But by opening up, they could. That’s when I realised: just like idols once saved me, maybe I can do the same now.”
Yuuko admits that after her father died, she poured herself even harder into her dream of becoming a weather forecaster. “He’d bought me my first textbook. I promised I’d pass.” After three failed attempts, she passed the exam on her fourth try in March 2024 — completing a promise she made years before.
Forecasting sunshine in two worlds
These days, Yuuko’s mornings start at 2AM for her TV appearances as a weathercaster with Weather Map. Her evenings? Spent performing, greeting fans, and preparing for Himemosu Orchestra’s upcoming July solo live at Shimokitazawa Shangri-La.
She’s even become the face of quirky projects like “Garigari-kun Weather”, a forecast that tells you how likely it is you’ll crave Japan’s beloved shaved ice pop.
Is it exhausting, juggling two lives?
“Of course,” she laughs. “But I’ve got dreams in both. I want to perform at a big venue someday as an idol. I want to deliver weather reports that help people stay safe. I’m lucky I get to chase both.”
And if her life were a forecast?
“Sunny,” she says with a soft smile. “Back when things were rough, idols supported me. Now I’m an idol, and the people who support me — my fans — are kind and warm. I’ve met so many of them because of this path. So yes, it’s sunny today.”
Yuuko Tsubakino Profile
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Born: 1 August 2000, Kyoto
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Height: 155cm | Blood Type: O
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Member of: Himemosu Orchestra (since uni)
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Weather affiliation: Weather Map
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Credentials: Nationally certified weather forecaster, disaster prevention advisor
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Fun facts: Loves ramen (especially soupless and Jirou-kei types), plays ukulele, sky-gazing and idol fangirling
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Next live: 31 July @ Shimokitazawa Shangri-La