Yumiko Fukushima is the wife of renowned former baseball player Ichiro Suzuki. He played for teams like Orix BlueWave, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and Miami Marlins. Suzuki is the first player to be inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.
Ichiro Suzuki is a big name in the baseball world. We are talking about the now-retired famous outfielder in the MLB who played his two final seasons for the Mariners.
Yumiko’s husband Ichiro was inducted into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame on 27 August 2022.
Yumiko Fukushima and Ichiro Suzuki have been married for more than 2 two decades.
Fukushima is a former sports reporter for the Tokyo Broadcasting System.
We will discuss her childhood, early life, marriage, and whether they have any children.
Let’s start with her quick facts.
Yumiko Fukushima | Quick Facts
| Full Name | Yumiko Fukushima |
| Birth Date | December 10, 1965 |
| Birth Place | Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Japan |
| Known As | Yumiko |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Ethnicity | Mixed |
| University | Keio University |
| Horoscope | Sagittarius |
| Father’s Name | N/A |
| Mother’s Name | N/A |
| Siblings | Atsuko Fukushima |
| Age | 58 Years Old |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in/170 cm/1.7 m |
| Weight | 60 kgs/132 lbs |
| Build | Slender |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Profession | Former Sports Reporter |
| Affiliated To | TBS TV |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Ichiro Suzuki |
| Children | None |
| Net Worth | Under Review |
| Merch Of Ichiro Suzuki | Jersey, Rookie Cards |
| Last Update | April 2024 |
Yumiko Fukushima | Early Life & Family
Famously known as the wife of Ichiro Suzuki, Yumiko Fukushima is Japanese by nationality.
She was born and raised in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, and her ethnicity is mixed.
Fukushima has not mentioned much about her parents in public. Hence, we have no idea who her parents are.
Fukushima has an elder sister, Atsuko Fukushima, who is three years older than her. Yumiko’s sister used to work as a broadcast journalist and flight attendant.
This Japanese beauty has not revealed much about her childhood.
According to some sources, she is a Keio University graduate, a research institute in Minato. However, it is not known about her major, but we expect it to be journalism as her older sister.
That is because she had been a TV announcer and reporter for Tokyo Broadcasting System before moving to the U.S. in her early career.
Yumiko Fukushima | Age & Body Measurements
Yumiko Fukushima has been the favorite of baseball fans as she always stands with her husband, Ichiro.
As Fukushima was born in 1965, she is 58 years old as of 2024.
She celebrates her birthday in December, which makes her Sagittarius as per the zodiac sign.
This sign is known to be passionate, free-spirited, and great adventurers. Fukushima embodies these elements in her life as a great supporter and free-spirited.
Otherwise, no other woman would leave their hometown as Fukushima did.
Similarly, Yumiko stands at 1.7 meters tall and weighs around 132 lbs. Aside from these, her body measurements are unknown.
But we know that she is petite, has short black hair, and has a pair of black eyes.
Yumiko Fukushima | Personal Life, Married, & Children
According to some sources, Yumiko and Ichiro began dating in 1997.
Author David Aretha wrote the book in which he stated despite being adored by many young female fans, the star baseball player “developed a long-term relationship with a professional woman who was seven years his senior.”
They married in a small Church in Santa Monica, California, on December 3, 1999. The two have been married for more than two decades and are still going strong as a couple.
Yumiko is seven years older than Ichiro, who is just 50 years old.
Suzuki was thrilled about their relationship and the possibility of being an average couple as both were celebrities.
Likewise, as expected, the couple received a lot of attention. Still unfazed and strong, the two got engaged in the fall of 1998.
Even after being married for many years, they do not have any children.
In 2009, the beautiful pair raised an adorable pet named Ikkyu. The pet dog was named after each of their names’ first characters.
Former Relationship
It is unknown whether Yumiko and Ichiro had a past relationship.
However, as per the opening of the book, ‘The Meaning of Ichiro,’ disclosed that Fukushima was already engaged to another MLB player.
The name of Yumiko’s former fiance was not revealed, but the writer mentioned that the baseball player played in the Central League while Ichiro was playing for the Pacific League.
Ichiro Suzuki’s Alleged Affair
Ichiro and Suzuki have been a married couple for many years now. The couple has managed to get stronger with time.
But not everything was rainbows and flowers for this couple. Did you know they almost did not make it to the altar?
Yes, during their engagement, it was revealed that Ichiro was having an affair with a married woman.
According to The Japan Times, a Japanese magazine, the alleged affair occurred in the final months of their marriage.
The news only got out after the woman’s husband discovered it.
Upon questioning, Suzuki denied knowing the woman had been married. He even paid a whopping $12.5 million to the woman as “consolation money.”
Sure enough, people were convinced Fukushima would break their relationship but surprisingly, she did not.
In an interview with The Japan Times, Ichiro addressed the issue and said, “I talked about this matter with my wife some time ago, and it’s not a problem between us anymore.”
Yumiko Fukushima, The Biggest Supporter
As we all know, nothing could break the couple, not even Ichiro’s alleged affair.
If anything, their relationship became more reliable, and Yumiko played an essential part in her husband’s life when Ichiro moved to the States.
As author Robert Whiting wrote in “The Meaning of Ichiro,” Fukushima was a typical Japanese wife who followed the deep-rooted tradition. To this, he added,
“She could be spotted by Japanese photographers walking three steps behind her husband in post-wedding excursions. It was a customary and respectful distance long observed by traditionally-minded wives in Japan.”
Ichiro Suzuki | Net Worth & Income
Yumiko is more than just the wife of Ichiro. Hugely overshadowed, Fukushima is a former sports reporter and TV host of the Japanese Television channel.
It is assumed the two likely met through baseball.
According to ‘The Meaning of Ichiro: The New Wave from Japan and the Transformation of Our National Pastime,’ she worked as a sports reporter for the Tokyo Broadcasting System.
To support her husband and his dream, Fukushima gave up her job and moved to the United States as Ichiro signed with the Seattle Mariners in 2001.
He played for the New York Yankees and the Miami Marlins before he returned to Seattle in 2018.
On March 21, 2019, Ichiro formally announced his retirement following the game’s conclusion between the Mariners and Athletics in Tokyo.
This allowed the national star to give a final bow to his fans in his home country. Furthermore, he tweeted,
“I have achieved so many of my dreams in baseball, both in my career in Japan and, since 2001, in Major League Baseball. I am honored to end my big league career where it started, with Seattle, and think it is fitting that my last games as a professional were played in my home country of Japan.”
Since Yumiko is not actively working, her net worth is unknown.
Meanwhile, her husband, Ichiro Suzuki, has an astounding net worth of $180 million as of 2024 thanks to his successful baseball career.
As much as they earn, the couple is also known for their kind-hearted nature. In 2011, the couple donated $1.25 million to help Japan’s tsunami and earthquake victims.
Endorsement Deals
The former baseball player earned from his advertisement and endorsement deals. In 2016, he made a total of $4 million just from his advertisement deals.
Forbes also mentioned that Suzuki earned around $7 million from his endorsement deals from Japan.
Fukushima’s husband, Ichiro, mostly endorsed Japanese brands, including Kirin Beer, Mizuno, and several other popular companies.
He also endorsed US-based brands and partnered with Cutter & Buck, Upper Deck, and Majestic Athletic.
Moreover, Ichiro was offered endorsement from many other brands but was reluctant to enter into agreements.
He turned down around $40 million worth of endorsement deals over the course of his career, per the claims by Ichiro’s agent.
Ichiro’s Tax Controversy
Ichiro’s finances were handled by his father, Nobuyuki, in his early career until 2002; Nobuyuki underreported Ichiro’s income, and he was burdened with a significant bill for unpaid taxes.
The scandal cost Ichiro an undisclosed amount of money and caused him embarrassment, causing the relationship to collapse between the father and son.
After this incident, Yumiko played a huge role in maintaining the finances of her beloved husband, Ichiro.
Popularity Graph
Yumiko Fukushima is the wife of the famous former baseball player Ichiro Suzuki.
The above graph shows Fukushima’s popularity over the past twelve months.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why does Yumiko Fukushima always walk three steps behind Ichiro?
As per the old Japanese tradition, it is a customary and respectful distance long observed. Thus, we can see Yumiko Fukushima three steps behind Ichiro.
Where do Yumiko and Ichiro reside?
Yumiko and her husband Ichiro lived in Issaquah, Washington, during the season while he played in Seattle. They also resided in Greenwich, Connecticut, while he played for the Yankees.
While Ichiro played for Marlins, the couple resided in Miami Beach.
Ever since their marriage in Los Angeles, Yumiko and Ichiro have been residing in Medina in the neighborhood of Bill Gates.
Does Yumiko and Ichiro have Kids?
The happily married couple, Yumiko and Ichiro, have no children.
Does Ichiro Suzuki speak English?
Yes, Ichiro Suzuki speaks English quite well. However, he prefers using a translator during his interviews for consistency and to avoid confusion while speaking to the press.
Is Ichiro Suzuki a Hall of Famer?
Ichiro Suzuki is the first MLB player to enter the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.
How many Gold Gloves does Ichiro Suzuki have?
Ichiro Suzuki won seven Golden Glove Awards in his professional baseball career.
