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| Former Sakurazaka46 Star Watanabe Rika Announces Marriage to Non-Celebrity Partner. (Image via: ORICON) |
Former Sakurazaka46 member Watanabe Rika, widely known among fans as Berika, has announced that she is married. The 30-year-old former idol shared the news on Instagram on 3 March 2026, revealing that she has tied the knot with a man outside the entertainment industry.
In a message addressed to supporters, Watanabe Rika said she wanted fans to hear the news directly from her. The former idol explained that she had been in a relationship with her now-husband for some time before deciding to marry. She described him as someone who allows her to feel calm and natural — a presence she values deeply after years working in the spotlight.
“I have been fortunate to meet many people and experience many things since entering the industry at 20,” she wrote in a handwritten statement shared online.
“Through those experiences I realised that the moments where I feel truly at ease are the quiet, natural ones. I’m happy to have met someone who values that side of me.”
She added that the couple hopes to build a warm household together while she continues her work at her own pace.
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Watanabe Rika also made clear that marriage will not mark the end of her public activity. Since graduating from Sakurazaka46, she has focused on personal interests and slower-paced projects, including sharing content related to hiking and nature — a hobby she began exploring more seriously last year.
“Although this is a new chapter in my life, I will continue to face each piece of work sincerely,” she said. “I want to keep sharing the beauty of the mountains and the things I genuinely love, in my own time.”
Watanabe Rika first entered the entertainment industry in August 2015 after passing the first-generation audition for Keyakizaka46, the group that would later become Sakurazaka46. Known for her gentle personality and soft-spoken charm, she quickly became one of the recognisable faces of the early lineup.
Her idol career followed the group through several transitions:
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August 2015 – Joined Keyakizaka46 as a 1st Generation member
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February 2019 – Officially part of the main first-generation lineup
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October 2020 – Became a 1st Generation member of Sakurazaka46 after the group’s rebranding
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December 2021 – Graduated from Sakurazaka46 after announcing her departure two months earlier
Since leaving the group, Watanabe Rika has maintained a quieter presence compared with her idol days, occasionally appearing in projects while focusing more on personal activities and fan communication.
The marriage announcement quickly spread across fan communities, where reactions ranged from surprise to heartfelt congratulations.
Many longtime followers expressed happiness at seeing the former idol reach a new stage of life. Messages praising Watanabe Rika’s gentle personality and thanking her for years of memories flooded social media.
Some fans admitted the news felt bittersweet, noting how emotionally connected they still feel to idols from the early Keyakizaka46 era. A number of supporters described her message as thoughtful and sincere, particularly her comment that fans feel “like family”.
Others were curious about the identity of the groom. Because Watanabe Rika described him simply as a private individual outside showbiz, fans began speculating about who the “lucky husband” might be, though most also emphasised respect for the couple’s privacy.
The announcement also caught attention because it follows another piece of news involving a former first-generation member. Earlier this year, fellow Keyakizaka46 alum Hirate Yurina also revealed she had married, prompting fans to joke that the group’s first generation is entering “marriage season”.
Born in Ibaraki Prefecture on 16 May 1995, Watanabe Rika became known during her idol years under nicknames such as “Berika” and “Pechan”. Her soft voice, shy humour and gentle presence made her a distinctive figure within the group’s early era.
Now, more than four years after her graduation from Sakurazaka46, she appears ready for a different stage of life — one she says will still include fans who supported her along the way.
While her environment may change slightly, Watanabe Rika told supporters she hopes to continue bringing positive energy through her activities.
What do you think about Berika’s marriage announcement, and were you surprised by the news?