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| The Wild Relationship Timeline of Ai Fukuhara Explained (Photo: Josei Seven) |
Japanese table tennis legend Ai Fukuhara has quietly stepped into a new chapter. At 37, she has confirmed that she has remarried and is currently expecting a child, sharing her story in an exclusive interview with a Japanese weekly magazine.
Her new partner is a Japanese man outside the public eye, referred to as Mr A. According to Fukuhara, the two began seeing each other only after her divorce was officially finalised at the end of 2021. At the time, marriage was not even part of the plan. Instead, the relationship started as a steady partnership built on trust rather than labels.
That mindset gradually shifted after encouragement from Mr A’s family, who gently suggested the idea of building a life together.
Ai Fukuhara admitted that it was then she began to feel that marriage could work again, especially with someone who offered calm support rather than pressure. The couple officially registered their marriage in early summer 2025.
Not long after, Ai Fukuhara discovered she was pregnant. Speaking candidly, she shared that despite this being her third pregnancy, the experience still comes with nerves.
This will be her first time giving birth in Japan, and she noted that medical systems and routines differ greatly from what she experienced before, leaving her both excited and cautious.
Fukuhara’s personal life has drawn public attention over the past few years, often overshadowing her sporting legacy. A two-time Olympic medallist in the women’s team event, she was once celebrated nationwide as a prodigy of Japanese table tennis. However, her move overseas after marrying a former Taiwanese player in 2016 brought challenges that extended beyond sport.
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The couple welcomed two children during their marriage, but adapting to life abroad while raising a young family proved difficult.
Ai Fukuhara later reflected that her tendency to push herself too hard may have deepened existing gaps in the relationship. She ultimately decided to end the marriage in 2020, with the divorce finalised the following year.
What followed was a lengthy and emotionally demanding period involving cross-border family arrangements.
After extended discussions and legal procedures, both parties reached a settlement in March 2024, maintaining shared parental responsibility for their children.
Throughout that time, Mr A remained by her side. Ai Fukuhara acknowledged that his presence helped her stay grounded during moments when public opinion and legal matters became overwhelming.
In the interview, she offered apologies to those affected by past events, including family members and professional partners, and explained that she chose to speak openly now to avoid misunderstandings and to protect her children from speculation.
Now preparing to welcome a new baby, Ai Fukuhara described feeling cautiously hopeful. While surprised by how her life has unfolded, she said she genuinely looks forward to expanding her family and focusing on stability rather than headlines.
Q: Does that mean she was pregnant with another man while she hadn’t announced her divorce?
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Short answer: no — the timeline doesn’t point to that.
Here’s the breakdown, without the noise:
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Her divorce was officially finalised in July 2021.
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She has clearly stated that her relationship with her current husband only began after the divorce, from late 2021 onwards.
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The remarriage happened in early summer 2025, and the pregnancy was confirmed after that.
What causes confusion is that:
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There were earlier reports in 2021 involving a different acquaintance during a very messy separation period.
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The divorce process itself took time and played out publicly, so to outsiders it looked overlapping even though the legal status had already changed.
In her own words, she chose to speak now because:
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She didn’t want misunderstandings to grow.
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Children are involved, and clarity matters.
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She didn’t want rumours filling in gaps she never addressed before.
So no, this isn’t a case of being pregnant while still married or before divorce. It’s more a case of delayed announcements + a complicated public timeline making everything feel wild in hindsight.
For fans who grew up watching her dominate the table tennis court, this moment feels less like a comeback and more like a quiet reset — one rooted in reflection, growth, and a desire to move forward on her own terms.