Former SKE48 Member Azuma Rion Reveals Marital Tensions Over Family Planning

Azuma Rion, a former member of the Japanese girl group SKE48, broke down in tears as she opened up about conflicts with her husband of three years on a recent reality show.
The couple's appearance on the ABEMA reality series "The End of This Awful Couple" on November 4 shed light on their disagreements regarding family planning. Azuma and her businessman husband, known as Koya on the show, candidly discussed their differing views on starting a family. {vi10}}"The End of This Awful Couple" follows three couples grappling with marital issues as they embark on a week-long journey to reconnect and address their relationship challenges. The show is hosted by comedian Yamazato Ryota, writer Nonomura Yukiko, and former Nogizaka46 member Matsumura Sayuri.

During the broadcast, Azuma revealed that she had expressed her desire to have a child before turning 30 multiple times since the early days of their marriage. While her husband initially agreed to work towards this goal, he later requested postponing their family plans, citing his need to focus on his business. As a result, the couple has yet to establish a concrete timeline for having children, even after three years of marriage.
Azuma, born in 1996, is set to turn 30 on November 13. She expressed her frustration at the likelihood of missing her desired timeline for starting a family. The former idol particularly lamented the uncertainty surrounding the plans they had discussed as newlyweds.
When asked how she would respond if her husband requested another three-year delay, Azuma, fighting back tears, said she could wait longer if he truly understood her patience thus far. She emphasized her hope that he would honor the commitments they made early in their marriage regarding family planning.

Azuma also admitted that broaching the subject of children with her husband has become increasingly difficult. She recalled a past instance when her husband expressed concern about their ability to manage if they had a child at that time, leading her to become more cautious about discussing the topic.
To reflect on their relationship, the couple traveled to Lake Toya in Hokkaido. During their trip, they took time to write down their thoughts for each other. Azuma prioritized her concerns about having children, expressing hope that their participation in the show would lead to establishing a specific timeline for their family plans.

Azuma Rion married Hiyo, an influencer-turned-businessman one year her junior, in August 2020. Her husband, who currently runs an account marketing company, appeared on the show under the name Koya.
Azuma began her entertainment career after joining SKE48 as a sixth-generation member in 2012, graduating from the group in March 2017. Since then, she has diversified her career, venturing into television, theater, advertising, and hosting. She has also pursued acting, appearing in dramas such as "Yamegoku: I Will Quit Being a Yakuza" and "It's Not That I Can't Get Married, I Just Choose Not To."