Former Japan Volleyball Star Ai Otomo Announces Divorce
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Ai Otomo, a former star player for Japan's national volleyball team, has publicly announced her divorce, saying she made the decision shortly after entering the new year of 2026.
In her statement, Otomo explained that she had spent a long time worrying and thinking before reaching the conclusion, saying, "I have worried and thought about this a great deal, and I came to this decision."
Otomo, who was widely recognized during her playing career for representing Japan in international competition, had remarried in 2013.
Her husband was Hiroyuki Akimoto, an athlete in the sport of judo. The couple's marriage has now come to an end, according to the announcement.
Otomo's daughter, Miku Akimoto, has followed in her mother's footsteps and is currently a member of Japan's national volleyball team herself.
The announcement has drawn attention in Japan, given Otomo's status as a well-known former athlete and the public profile of her family, including her daughter's ongoing career in the national volleyball setup.
No additional details have been released regarding the specific reasons behind the divorce or any plans either party may have going forward.
The news comes as part of a broader pattern in which public figures in sports choose to share significant personal life updates directly with fans and media, rather than allowing speculation to spread.
Vocabulary7 words
- divorce
- the legal end of a marriage
- decision
- a choice made after thinking carefully
- competition
- a contest to see who performs best
- remarried
- married again after a previous marriage ended
- judo
- a sport of throws and holds from Japan
- athlete
- a person who is skilled in sports
- career
- a person's long-term work or profession
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Her divorce 2. Judo athlete 3. True
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Discussion questions
- Why do you think public figures often choose to announce personal matters like divorce directly to the media?
- What pressures might athletes with famous parents face in their own careers?
- Should the media report on the personal lives of retired athletes? What are the ethical considerations?
- How might a long period of 'worrying and thinking,' as Otomo described, be reflected in other major life decisions?
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