Hiroko Moriguchi's Beauty & Wellness | Diet, Stretching & Self-Care
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Hiroko Moriguchi made her singing debut in 1985 with "Mizu no Hoshi e Ai wo Komete" (To a Watery Star with Love), a theme song for the Japanese anime series Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. Known for her clear, expressive singing voice and cheerful personality, she has enjoyed a career spanning more than four decades as a singer and television entertainer.
In recent years, attention has turned not only to her musical talent but also to her approach to beauty, health, and embracing life as she grows older. Born on June 13, 1968, Moriguchi turned 58 in 2026. In 2024, she appeared in a bikini for the first time in 34 years, and in 2025, she celebrated her 40th anniversary as a professional singer.
Yet her life has involved much more than glamorous performances and career achievements. In her twenties, she was so busy that she sometimes fell asleep while eating. In her thirties, she experienced a period of physical and emotional difficulties that prompted her to reconsider how she lived. Then, during her milestone anniversary year, an ankle fracture left her facing months of restricted mobility and demanding rehabilitation.
Throughout these experiences, Moriguchi gradually developed her own approach to looking after herself. Her routines include drinking warm water in the morning, spending around 20 minutes stretching, paying attention to food and sleep, staying physically active through her performances, and enjoying time with family and friends.
She also speaks openly about the physical changes that come with age, while holding on to her ambition to continue singing for many years. For Moriguchi, caring for her health is closely connected to the music and people that give her life meaning.
In this comprehensive feature, we explore Hiroko Moriguchi's beauty and wellness habits, skincare philosophy, eating habits, favorite drinks, stretching, exercise, body maintenance, sleep, and relaxation. We also look at her musical career, views on marriage, close relationship with her mother, and friendships with Japanese entertainers including Miyuki Imori, Yoko Oginome, Yu Hayami, and Iyo Matsumoto.
1. Who Is Hiroko Moriguchi? Her Career, Famous Songs, and Life at 58
A childhood dream of singing and an early love of dance
Hiroko Moriguchi was born in Fukuoka City, Japan, and grew up as the youngest of four sisters. From an early age, music was one of the most important parts of her life.
She began dreaming of becoming a professional singer at around four years old. By the age of five, she was already participating in singing competitions and discovering the excitement of performing in front of an audience.
During junior high school, she joined the Fukuoka branch of School Mates, a Japanese performance and dance group that helped young entertainers develop their stage skills. There, she learned both singing and dancing while pursuing her ambition of entering the entertainment industry.
The journey was far from straightforward. She attended numerous auditions and experienced repeated rejection. Nevertheless, she continued developing her talent and eventually finished as a runner-up in the national competition of the NHK singing programme Kachinuki Kayou Tengoku.
Her perseverance paid off in 1985 when, at just 17, she made her professional debut with "Mizu no Hoshi e Ai wo Komete," a theme song for Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam.
Despite achieving her childhood dream, opportunities to work as a singer did not immediately grow as she had hoped. Before graduating from high school, she faced discouraging news about the future of her career.
Determined to continue singing, Moriguchi decided to embrace television variety programmes as well. She threw herself into comedy sketches, physical challenges, and lively conversations with the same dedication she brought to music.
Her quick wit, bright personality, and willingness to tackle demanding entertainment projects made her a popular television personality. She became known as one of the original "variety idols," or baradoru, a Japanese expression describing entertainers who combine an idol background with strong variety-show skills.
What began as a way to preserve her singing career ultimately helped her develop the versatility that would become one of her greatest strengths.
From the Kohaku stage to a celebrated anime-song vocalist
In 1991, Moriguchi achieved another major musical success with "ETERNAL WIND ~Hohoemi wa Hikaru Kaze no Naka~," the theme song for the animated film Mobile Suit Gundam F91.
Beginning that same year, she appeared on NHK's prestigious year-end music programme Kohaku Uta Gassen for six consecutive years.
In 1992, she became a familiar face on Yume ga MORI MORI, a popular Japanese television variety show where she appeared alongside comedian and entertainer Kenji Moriwaki and members of the then-rising group SMAP.
Through singing, dancing, comedy, and spontaneous exchanges with fellow performers, she established herself as an entertainer capable of connecting with audiences in many different settings.
Decades later, her musical career experienced another remarkable chapter. Between 2019 and 2022, all three albums in her GUNDAM SONG COVERS series reached the top three of Japan's Oricon weekly album chart.
Her interpretations of beloved anime songs attracted both longtime fans and listeners from younger generations. She subsequently explored other anime classics through her ANISON COVERS projects.
In 2025, Moriguchi released Your Flower ~Uta no Hanataba~, an album celebrating her 40th anniversary as a singer.
One particularly meaningful episode from her career involves "Ubugoe," the theme song for the 2022 film Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan's Island.
During a concert in her forties, Moriguchi had publicly expressed her hope of singing another Gundam theme song even after reaching her fifties. At the time, there was no agreement for a new film or song.
However, director Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, who was in the audience, remembered her words. Years later, he invited her to perform the theme song for his film.
The resulting song, "Ubugoe," became a memorable example of a dream taking shape long after it had first been spoken aloud.
One of Moriguchi's personal mottos is "Dreams have no expiration date." Her continued connection with Gundam music beautifully illustrates that philosophy.
After more than four decades in entertainment, she still approaches singing with enthusiasm. That desire to remain onstage for as long as possible is also one of the strongest motivations behind her interest in health and self-care.
Fun Fact 1: An unexpected talent for music quizzes
Moriguchi's official profile lists magic tricks and identifying classic Japanese songs from their opening notes among her special skills. She has also won an MVP award on the Japanese television programme Quiz! DoReMiFaDon!, demonstrating that her musical knowledge extends well beyond her own repertoire.
2. Beauty and Skincare: Embracing Age and a Bikini Photo Shoot at 56
The confidence behind her first bikini appearance in 34 years
Moriguchi's appearance attracted widespread attention in August 2024 when her album ANISON COVERS 2 was released.
At 56, she appeared in a bikini on the album artwork for the first time in 34 years. Her willingness to try something new at this stage of life generated an enthusiastic response from fans of different generations.
Interestingly, Moriguchi explained that she had not undertaken a special weight-loss programme or imposed an unusually strict diet specifically for the photo shoot.
She was already accustomed to paying attention to her meals, stretching regularly, and moving her body during performances. In recent concerts, she had also been incorporating increasingly energetic dance routines.
These everyday activities helped her feel comfortable taking on the challenge.
The idea itself emerged from an informal conversation with her staff. Moriguchi has often spoken about valuing casual discussions because an unexpected suggestion can develop into something exciting.
What began as lighthearted conversation gradually turned into a real photo shoot.
During the session, the production team encouraged her, experimented with different approaches, and created an enjoyable atmosphere. Moriguchi later recalled that the excitement of trying something new became more important than any initial embarrassment.
After the photographs were released, she received messages from women around her own age who felt inspired to visit the beach, wear swimwear, or challenge themselves in ways they had previously hesitated to try.
For Moriguchi, the response meant more than receiving compliments about her appearance. She was delighted that an entertainment project could encourage other people to enjoy their own lives.
Rather than trying to recreate the appearance of her younger self, she embraced an opportunity that belonged to the woman she had become.
Natural beauty, skincare, and accepting physical changes
In 2025, photographs of Moriguchi appearing without her usual stage makeup also attracted attention after she shared them on her official blog.
Although audiences frequently see her in glamorous costumes and carefully styled makeup, she is equally comfortable sharing more relaxed moments from everyday life.
When discussing beauty and health, Moriguchi often places particular emphasis on her daily lifestyle.
Stretching, eating thoughtfully, taking care of her sleep, and noticing changes in her physical condition have become important parts of her routine since she reassessed her lifestyle in her thirties.
She has recalled feeling that the appearance of her skin, including dullness, changed after she began incorporating regular stretching. This was her personal observation rather than a claim that everyone would experience the same result.
Her experience illustrates how she has come to view beauty as something connected with everyday life rather than simply a matter of appearance.
During a 2026 conversation, she also spoke about growing older without having undergone cosmetic procedures or plastic surgery.
Beauty is a personal choice, and Moriguchi's comments reflect the particular path she has taken. She appears comfortable valuing the routines and experiences that have shaped her while accepting the natural changes of age.
In a 2024 interview, she also expressed the belief that she had developed greater confidence in herself than when she was younger.
Over time, experience has given her a deeper understanding of her strengths, both professionally and personally. That quiet assurance is part of the charm people associate with her today.
Fun Fact 2: Her beauty philosophy comes with a sense of humour
Alongside motivational sayings about dreams and smiling, Moriguchi's official profile includes a playful motto about comfortable, loose-fitting underwear. Her willingness to joke about fashion and everyday life reflects the relaxed humour that has long been part of her public personality.
3. Warm Water and 20 Minutes of Stretching: Her Longstanding Wellness Routine
Starting the morning with warm water
One of Moriguchi's most clearly documented wellness habits is drinking warm water in the morning before stretching.
In a 2024 interview, she described a routine in which she drinks warm water after waking up and then spends approximately 20 minutes stretching.
Warm water is also included among her favourite drinks in her official profile, suggesting that it is a familiar part of her everyday life.
Her professional schedule may involve television appearances, recording sessions, rehearsals, and concerts. Against that busy backdrop, having a simple morning routine gives her a regular opportunity to pay attention to herself.
There is nothing elaborate about preparing a warm drink and making time to move gently. The appeal of Moriguchi's routine lies in its simplicity and the importance she places on continuing it.
Stretching has been part of her life since her thirties
Moriguchi began incorporating stretching into her lifestyle during her thirties, when a difficult period prompted her to reconsider her physical and emotional well-being.
At a health-related event in May 2025, she again explained that she spends around 20 minutes stretching in the morning.
Her routine includes movements performed while lying on her back, raising her legs, and stretching the area around her hips.
In an earlier interview from 2019, she had also spoken about stretching for approximately 20 minutes at night. The time of day mentioned in interviews has therefore varied over the years.
What remains consistent is her long-term commitment to making room for physical movement within daily life.
For a singer who spends considerable time standing and sometimes performing energetic choreography, being aware of how her body feels is closely connected to her work.
Rather than treating stretching as a temporary trend, Moriguchi has maintained it as part of her personal routine over many years.
Health checkups and her ambition to perform into her seventies
As she has grown older, Moriguchi has become increasingly open about the physical changes she notices.
In May 2025, she spoke with humour about finding it more difficult to recover from tiredness and occasionally waking up with unexpected aches.
She also discussed experiencing fatigue during menopause and having a period when raising her left arm was difficult.
Alongside these experiences, Moriguchi shared amusing stories about forgetfulness.
On one occasion, she carefully put something important inside an inner compartment of her bag, only to forget where she had placed it and begin searching everywhere.
Another time, she believed she had forgotten the boots she needed for a concert, only to discover that she was already wearing them.
She also recalled leaving a newly purchased phone charger on a Shinkansen bullet train, leading to another search for a missing item.
Her ability to recount such everyday experiences with laughter makes her feel approachable, even after decades in the spotlight.
She has also spoken about attending regular health checkups and having a doctor she can consult about her physical condition.
In a particularly memorable anecdote, she revealed that her doctor also looks after legendary Japanese rock singer Eikichi Yazawa.
Seeing Yazawa continue to deliver powerful performances in his seventies encouraged Moriguchi to imagine herself singing energetically in her sixties and seventies as well.
For her, looking after her health is deeply connected to preparing for the performances and musical opportunities that may still lie ahead.
Fun Fact 3: Her musical tastes extend far beyond anime songs
Moriguchi's official profile lists international artists including Barbra Streisand, Chet Baker, Sarah Vaughan, Louis Armstrong, and João Gilberto among her favourites. Her appreciation of jazz and other musical styles reveals another side of the vocalist best known internationally for Gundam songs.
4. Diet and Favourite Drinks: Protein, Yame Tea, Amazake, and Home Cooking
When her twenties were too busy even for a proper meal
In a 2024 interview, Moriguchi explained that she pays attention to the amount of protein in her meals and the order in which she eats different foods.
Her career requires her to sing for extended periods and sometimes incorporate energetic dancing, making everyday meals an important part of how she prepares for work.
However, her relationship with food was very different in her twenties.
At the height of her television popularity, she had as many as 12 regular programmes while also appearing on music shows and performing concerts.
During a 2026 conversation with Kenji Moriwaki, she recalled that she used to think of food primarily as fuel for keeping herself going.
Her schedule was so demanding that she sometimes wanted to sleep more than she wanted to eat.
She even remembered falling asleep during meals, occasionally spilling miso soup or burning herself with it.
She can now recount those moments with humour, but the stories reveal just how exhausting that period of her career could be.
When she began reconsidering her lifestyle in her thirties, her approach to food gradually changed as well.
In the 2026 conversation, Moriguchi explained that she had become better able to appreciate how delicious food could be.
Meals were becoming something to enjoy rather than simply something she needed before rushing to her next job.
That shift reflects a broader change in how she values everyday experiences and makes time for herself.
Warm water, Yame green tea, amazake, and red miso soup
Moriguchi's official profile lists warm water, Yame tea, amazake, and red miso soup among her favourite drinks.
Yame tea is a celebrated Japanese green tea produced in Fukuoka Prefecture, the region where Moriguchi grew up.
Her fondness for this tea provides a small but meaningful connection to her hometown.
Amazake is a traditional Japanese sweet drink, commonly made using fermented rice or sake lees, while red miso soup is a familiar part of Japanese food culture.
These preferences suggest that Moriguchi enjoys everyday flavours with deep roots in Japanese cuisine.
Her fondness for warm water has even appeared in stories about spending time with friends.
At a dinner in October 2017, Moriguchi ordered warm water while her longtime friend Miyuki Imori chose green tea.
The two spent the evening laughing and talking about relationships and their futures, despite neither of them drinking alcohol.
In the same blog post, Moriguchi mentioned that she does not particularly enjoy strongly spicy seasonings.
A question from a member of the restaurant staff about ingredients they disliked turned into a humorous conversation about romance, with both women quickly building on each other's jokes.
For Moriguchi, food and drink also provide opportunities to spend relaxed time with people she cares about.
Her mother's comforting gameni and tamagoyaki
Home cooking holds a special place in Moriguchi's life, particularly the meals prepared by her mother, Tamae.
During a December 2025 appearance on the Japanese television talk show Tetsuko no Heya, known in English as Tetsuko's Room, Moriguchi explained that her mother still prepares lunch boxes for her when she is busy with work.
These meals often include gameni, a traditional Fukuoka dish made with simmered vegetables and other ingredients.
Another treasured dish is her mother's tamagoyaki, a Japanese rolled omelette.
Moriguchi describes her mother's version as wonderfully soft and comforting. Although she would love to recreate the same flavour herself, she admits with a smile that she has not quite managed to make it in the same way.
Her mother raised four daughters while working early mornings at a fish market. Preparing meals was one of the many ways she cared for her family.
Being able to enjoy that familiar cooking as an adult carries memories of childhood, family affection, and the sacrifices her mother made.
For Moriguchi, the value of a meal comes not only from what is on the plate but also from the relationships and memories surrounding it.
Fun Fact 4: Her favourite foods are wonderfully down-to-earth
Moriguchi's official profile lists inari sushi, gyoza dumplings, Japanese rice crackers, sweet potato chips, and raisins on the vine among her favourites. The familiar, everyday foods offer a charming contrast to her glamorous stage appearances.
5. Exercise, Dance, and Body Maintenance: Her Injury and Rehabilitation
Physical performance has always been part of her singing career
Moriguchi learned dance during her school years and has continued incorporating physical performance into her career.
She took part in demanding activities on television variety shows and has spent decades singing, moving, and engaging audiences from the concert stage.
In a 2024 interview, she explained that increasingly energetic dance routines had become part of her recent concerts.
Physical movement had long been woven into the work she loved.
Then, in 2025, an unexpected injury temporarily took away much of that freedom of movement.
An ankle fracture during her 40th-anniversary year
In May 2025, Moriguchi fell during a live performance and suffered an avulsion fracture of her left ankle.
She was unable to get back onto her feet normally and was taken to hospital. The injury also affected subsequent performances and commitments.
During a radio conversation with Kenji Moriwaki in May 2026, she described the experience in greater detail.
According to Moriguchi, she spent close to two months using a wheelchair, followed by a period in which she required crutches. She recalled being able to stand again around October 2025.
Despite the challenges, she looked for small ways to bring some cheerfulness to her situation.
She decorated the seat of her wheelchair with blue fabric and added the name "PIROKO," turning it into a personalised design.
Her mother also responded with characteristic humour. Rather than focusing only on the difficulties, Tamae cheerfully suggested taking a cute photograph of her daughter using crutches.
The exchange reflected the warm relationship between mother and daughter and the lighthearted outlook that Tamae had encouraged throughout Moriguchi's life.
Tearful rehabilitation and the return to the stage
One of the hardest aspects of Moriguchi's recovery was dealing with the loss of strength that followed a prolonged period of limited movement.
When she began rehabilitation, she found it difficult even to stand on one leg.
She recalled feeling as though her leg no longer belonged to her because movements that had once seemed natural had become so difficult.
Rebuilding her physical strength was painful, and at times she cried during rehabilitation sessions.
The injury was particularly distressing because it occurred during her 40th-anniversary year, when important musical projects were underway.
She continued working on the anniversary album, sometimes keeping her crutches nearby while recording.
There were moments when she questioned why such a difficult experience had arrived during a year she had spent four decades working towards.
Nevertheless, her desire to keep singing remained strong.
Her anniversary tour, originally scheduled to begin in September, was postponed until December 2025. Through continued rehabilitation, she eventually returned to performing onstage while standing.
For someone whose career has involved singing and dancing for decades, the experience offered a powerful reminder of how much everyday movement matters.
Behind Moriguchi's cheerful performances lies the determination she demonstrated while rebuilding her strength and preparing to sing again.
Fun Fact 5: She continued recording during her recovery
During a 2026 interview, Moriguchi recalled working on her 40th-anniversary album while still relying on crutches. Even when moving around was difficult, she continued attending recording sessions and creating music, showing how deeply singing remained part of her life.
6. Sleep, Rest, and Emotional Well-Being: Life Lessons from Her Thirties
Reconsidering life after years of nonstop work
During the 1990s, Moriguchi maintained an exceptionally busy schedule filled with music programmes, television variety shows, and concerts.
In her twenties, she had 12 regular television programmes at one point and devoted much of her energy to keeping up with professional commitments.
When she reached her thirties, however, circumstances began to change.
Her workload shifted, and she started noticing changes in both her physical condition and her emotional well-being.
She was no longer a newcomer receiving attention simply for being young, yet she did not always feel the confidence she associated with being an established veteran.
For a period, she struggled with uncertainty about where she belonged in the entertainment industry.
That difficult time prompted her to examine the way she was living.
She began paying greater attention to food, sleep, and gentle exercise, gradually making more room for her own needs rather than allowing work to determine every part of her routine.
She also came to recognise that she sometimes pretended to be cheerful even when she was struggling.
Over time, she learned that expressing how she felt could be just as important as maintaining a positive outlook.
She has described trying to communicate her feelings thoughtfully, without creating unnecessary tension for the people around her.
During her difficult years, she was also deeply moved by a letter from a fan who reassured her that she did not always have to force herself to smile.
For a public figure who had built much of her image around cheerfulness, that compassionate message offered a different kind of encouragement.
What Tamori and Mitsuko Horie taught her about change
In a December 2024 interview with GOETHE, Moriguchi reflected on the words of people who had helped her through different stages of life.
One of them was Tamori, one of Japan's best-known television presenters and a senior alumnus of a school in her hometown of Fukuoka.
At a time when Moriguchi was discouraged because something she had previously been able to do had become more difficult with age, Tamori offered her a different perspective.
He suggested that a method which worked in the past would not necessarily remain the best approach forever.
His advice helped her realise that changes in ability did not mean she had to remain tied to the way she used to do things.
She could find methods better suited to the person she was now.
Another meaningful exchange involved Mitsuko Horie, a highly respected veteran singer known for numerous Japanese anime songs.
When Moriguchi was upset because her voice was not performing as she wanted, Horie encouraged her to make time to sing for herself.
Coming from someone with decades of professional singing experience, the advice touched Moriguchi deeply.
She recalled feeling so moved that she was brought to tears.
Both experiences helped her see that caring for herself and adapting to change could be part of continuing to love her work.
Rather than measuring herself entirely against her younger years, she could continue discovering what worked for her at each stage of life.
Keeping a diary since junior high school and discovering ILLIT
Moriguchi has maintained another personal habit since her junior high school years: keeping a diary.
In a 2024 interview, she explained that although she no longer writes every day, she still records memorable conversations, meaningful phrases, and experiences that stay with her.
She believes that even casual exchanges can contain valuable ideas or lessons.
The advice she remembers from Tamori and Mitsuko Horie is one example of how words shared by others have become part of her personal outlook.
More recently, Moriguchi has found a new source of enjoyment in supporting the K-pop girl group ILLIT.
She has become enthusiastic about their singing, dancing, and visual performances, sometimes becoming so absorbed in their television appearances that she finds herself commenting on the camera angles.
After spending decades receiving encouragement from fans, Moriguchi discovered what it felt like to be an enthusiastic fan herself.
The experience gave her a fresh appreciation of the people who attend her concerts and follow her career.
It also inspired new merchandise ideas, including the creation of a large acrylic stand measuring approximately 30 centimetres.
At 58, Moriguchi continues to enjoy discovering new artists and finding inspiration in music from younger generations.
Her curiosity gives her another way to connect with the world beyond her own performances.
Fun Fact 6: She enjoys searching for her own name online
Moriguchi's official profile identifies searching for mentions of herself on social media, often called ego-searching in Japan, as one of her favourite private activities. It reflects her continuing interest in what fans are saying and in the changing ways performers connect with their audiences.
7. Marriage, Family, and Her Mother's Influence on Her Life
Is Hiroko Moriguchi married? Her personal views on staying single
As of May 2026, Hiroko Moriguchi had publicly confirmed that she was unmarried.
Although she has frequently been asked about marriage throughout her career, she explained during a May 2026 conversation with Kenji Moriwaki that remaining single had been a choice she had made for herself.
One of the main reasons is her deep affection for singing and performing.
She has joked that even when she was in a relationship, she would rather perform at a Christmas dinner show than spend the evening on a romantic date.
Her commitment to music has shaped important personal decisions.
Moriguchi revealed that she had received marriage proposals in the past. However, when a prospective partner wanted her to give up her career, she chose to continue singing.
After many years of living independently, she has developed a lifestyle that suits her preferences and professional commitments.
At the same time, she has not ruled out marriage in the future.
She has indicated that a relationship in which both people respect each other's personalities and established routines could still be a natural possibility.
Her comments reflect a woman who has spent many years deciding what matters most to her and building a life around those priorities.
Her mother raised four daughters while working at a fish market
Moriguchi grew up as the youngest of four sisters.
Her parents divorced when she was in the second grade of elementary school, leaving her mother, Tamae, to raise the four girls.
Tamae worked early mornings at a fish market to support the family.
They lived in an apartment without a private bathroom. After returning from work, her mother would wash fish scales from her body in the cold before preparing breakfast for her daughters.
Moriguchi has retained vivid memories of watching her mother work hard to provide for the family.
That example taught her the importance of perseverance, responsibility, and continuing to pursue her dreams.
Her mother's influence also became especially important during Moriguchi's difficult period in her thirties.
When she was feeling discouraged, Tamae urged her to remember to smile, even during difficult times.
At first, Moriguchi found the advice difficult to accept because she did not feel cheerful.
Gradually, however, she began focusing more on the people and everyday experiences for which she felt grateful.
Her motto about lifting the corners of her mouth and welcoming good fortune reflects the outlook her mother helped her develop.
Homemade red rice for her mother's 90th birthday
On October 18, 2026, Moriguchi published a post on her official blog celebrating her mother Tamae's recent 90th birthday.
According to the post, Tamae decided to prepare sekihan, traditional Japanese red rice, for the family herself.
She went into the kitchen early in the morning and cooked the celebratory dish for her daughters.
Although she moved more slowly than she had when Moriguchi was a child, watching her mother prepare food for the family filled Moriguchi with emotion.
The red rice, prepared with large adzuki beans, became a particularly memorable part of the celebration.
Tamae also took a ribbon from one of her birthday presents and draped it over her shoulder like the sash carried by a Japanese relay runner.
She then cheerfully announced her determination to keep moving forward.
As the family read birthday cards aloud, the atmosphere became emotional, with voices wavering as they shared their appreciation.
A nephew also joined the celebratory meal, where Tamae surprised everyone by finishing the full course.
For Moriguchi, seeing her mother continue to enjoy food, conversation, humour, and family life at 90 was deeply meaningful.
Being able to share home-cooked meals and laughter with her mother remains one of the most treasured parts of her life.
Fun Fact 7: Her mother enjoys Korean dramas and Japanese pop idols
Tamae is known for enjoying Korean television dramas and supporting Kazuya Ohashi of the Japanese idol group Naniwa Danshi. Her enthusiasm for finding new things to enjoy, even at 90, reveals a lively curiosity that she shares with her daughter.
8. Friendships with Miyuki Imori, Yoko Oginome, Yu Hayami, and Iyo Matsumoto
Miyuki Imori knows her by her original family name
One of Moriguchi's longest friendships is with Miyuki Imori, a fellow entertainer who attended Horikoshi High School and also made her entertainment debut in 1985.
The two built their careers during the same era of Japanese television and have maintained a close relationship both professionally and privately.
In October 2017, Moriguchi described a dinner with Imori on her official blog.
The evening also included television producer Kenji Suga, who had known both women since their teenage years.
Imori ordered green tea, while Moriguchi chose warm water.
Despite drinking no alcohol, the group spent the evening laughing about past relationships, future plans, and memories from their younger days.
Their easygoing conversation included playful jokes about romantic experiences, sparked by an ordinary question from a restaurant employee.
Another meaningful detail is that Imori and Suga are among the few people who still address Moriguchi by her original family name, Hanamura, even in professional settings.
After so many years working under her stage name, being with people who knew her before she became famous offers a special connection to her younger self.
During a February 2024 appearance on TBS Radio, Moriguchi shared another story about her friendship with Imori.
They had recently spent around two hours talking on the phone, much of it devoted to complimenting one another.
Moriguchi praised Imori's work, while Imori celebrated the fact that Moriguchi had continued singing for so many years.
They also made a promise to go on a television location shoot together when they reached their seventies.
After decades in the same industry, they continue to laugh, encourage each other, and imagine new experiences they can share in the future.
Mutual encouragement with fellow singer Yoko Oginome
Another longtime colleague Moriguchi has spoken warmly about is Yoko Oginome, a Japanese pop singer who rose to prominence in the 1980s.
In an August 2024 interview with THE CHANGE, Moriguchi discussed her relationships with both Imori and Oginome.
She explained that Imori sometimes becomes indignant on her behalf when she hears that Moriguchi has experienced something upsetting at work, responding as though the incident had happened to her personally.
With Oginome, Moriguchi has enjoyed conversations backstage at music programmes and over the phone.
The two encourage one another by recognising and praising each other's professional achievements.
Having entered the entertainment industry during the same era, they understand many of the opportunities and difficulties associated with sustaining a long career.
Moriguchi has even said that she would like to create a television programme where women celebrate one another's strengths and accomplishments.
Her friendships show how important mutual recognition and encouragement have become in her personal and professional life.
Performing with Yu Hayami and Iyo Matsumoto
Moriguchi also performs alongside singers Yu Hayami and Iyo Matsumoto as part of the concert unit Cutie Morimori.
All three women have long histories in Japanese entertainment, and their performances combine familiar music, dance, humour, and the pleasure of appearing together.
In April 2024, during a concert at Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Moriguchi and Matsumoto organised a surprise celebration for Hayami's 42nd debut anniversary.
Hayami was moved to tears when the other two performers congratulated her during the encore.
On her official blog, Moriguchi expressed her respect for both women and her happiness at being able to continue sharing the stage with them.
She has also shared amusing behind-the-scenes moments.
After one concert, the three women wanted a commemorative photograph, but the surroundings were too dark. Their respective hair and makeup artists came to the rescue by illuminating them with smartphone lights.
Moments like these reveal the warmth and humour that exist beyond their polished public performances.
In May 2026, Moriguchi also reunited with former Yume ga MORI MORI colleague Kenji Moriwaki for a radio conversation.
They talked openly about their younger years in entertainment, marriage, food, changes in physical strength, and her rehabilitation following the ankle fracture.
Because Moriwaki has known her for so long, their conversation could move naturally between shared memories and the realities of growing older.
Family, lifelong friends, and fellow performers have all played important roles in Moriguchi's life.
These relationships provide laughter, encouragement, opportunities to perform, and reminders of the experiences they have shared over decades.
Fun Fact 8: Her treasured memories of mentor Masaaki Hirao
Moriguchi studied at a music school founded by composer and singer Masaaki Hirao in Fukuoka and received lessons connected with her debut song. During a 2025 appearance on Tetsuko's Room, she became emotional while watching old footage of her mentor, explaining that she still sometimes wished she could telephone him, even after his passing.
Conclusion: Hiroko Moriguchi's Approach to Beauty, Wellness, and Ageing Gracefully
Hiroko Moriguchi's beauty and wellness habits reflect a lifetime of learning how to care for herself while continuing to pursue the career she loves.
In her twenties, she devoted enormous energy to work. During her thirties, a difficult period encouraged her to reconsider her food, sleep, physical activity, and emotional needs.
In her fifties, she has continued drinking warm water in the morning, stretching regularly, paying attention to her meals, and attending health checkups while remaining active as a singer.
Her ankle fracture in 2025 brought a particularly difficult challenge. After experiencing restricted mobility and the demanding process of rehabilitation, she returned to the stage for her 40th-anniversary performances.
Alongside her daily routines, Moriguchi treasures the advice she has received from figures such as Tamori and Mitsuko Horie, the encouragement of friends including Miyuki Imori and Yoko Oginome, and the joy of performing with Yu Hayami and Iyo Matsumoto.
Time with her mother, who recently celebrated her 90th birthday, remains deeply important, while her enthusiasm for ILLIT shows that she continues discovering new sources of inspiration.
Her motto, "Dreams have no expiration date," reflects not only her musical career but also her willingness to embrace new interests and experiences as she grows older.
By paying attention to her body, enjoying her work, nurturing friendships, and appreciating everyday moments, Moriguchi has created a lifestyle rooted in her own experiences and values.
At 58, her story offers an engaging reminder that beauty and wellness can be approached as an ongoing part of living fully, finding joy, and remaining open to what life may bring next.
References
- Hiroko Moriguchi Official Website — Profile, Favourite Foods and Drinks, and Personal Mottos
- GOETHE — Hiroko Moriguchi Discusses Her Bikini Photo Shoot in Her Fifties (December 28, 2024, Japanese)
- GOETHE — Hiroko Moriguchi on Self-Care and Overcoming Difficulties in Her Thirties (December 30, 2024, Japanese)
- THE CHANGE — Hiroko Moriguchi on Physical Changes and Friendships with Miyuki Imori and Yoko Oginome (August 17, 2024, Japanese)
- Sponichi — Hiroko Moriguchi Discusses Her Ankle Fracture and Rehabilitation (May 19, 2026, Japanese)
- Hiroko Moriguchi Official Blog — Celebrating Her Mother's 90th Birthday (October 2026, Japanese)
- Bunka Hoso — Hiroko Moriguchi's Dream of Singing Gundam Songs in Her Fifties and Her Connection with Director Yoshikazu Yasuhiko (2022, Japanese)
Note: This article is based on publicly available information and interviews with Hiroko Moriguchi. Some routines and personal experiences reflect the time at which they were originally discussed.
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