Erina Iwata's event just before leaving for NY, dreaming of 'The Devil Wears Prada'

Freelance announcer Erina Iwata appeared as a guest on the radio program 'Akane Osawa LUCKY 7 supported by Inuzuka Seisakusho' (aired on Nippon Broadcasting System, Monday to Friday, 9:50 PM to 9:57 PM) from May 25 to May 29. Having recently transitioned to freelance work after leaving Nippon TV, Iwata discussed her long-standing relationship with host Akane Osawa and the circumstances behind her decision to become an announcer.

Iwata joined Nippon TV in 2018 after graduating from college. She gained attention for her fearless hosting style when dealing with major celebrity MCs on shows such as 'Sekai Marumie! TV Tokusoubu,' earning her the nickname 'Beast Tamer.' She left the station this year, 2026, and has just taken her first steps as a freelancer.

At the beginning of the program, Osawa greeted her by saying, 'I've always been telling you to come, haven't I?', to which Iwata replied, 'You have always been saying that.' The collaboration between the two, who deepened their friendship through 'Sukkiri,' finally became a reality.

However, Iwata revealed that she did not originally intend to become an announcer. During college, she aspired to enter the overseas financial industry.

This was triggered by her sister, who is 12 years her senior. At the time, her sister worked at a financial institution in New York, and Iwata was strongly impacted when she visited her during college. 'Seeing my sister walking around in a tight dress, with her hair in a bun, wearing high heels in a cool office, I thought, it’s not exactly 'The Devil Wears Prada,' but I wanted to be like that,' she recalled. She even submitted a leave of absence from her school and completed the admission procedures for a university in the United States.

When asked by Osawa, 'Can you speak English?', she replied, 'I can't! I intended to learn after going there (laughs).' Just before her planned study abroad, a senior at her school suggested, 'You are definitely cut out to be an announcer; there is an exam, why don't you try taking it?' She applied for the Nippon TV employment examination and passed on her first attempt.

At the end of the program, Osawa expressed her joy, saying, 'You finally made it here. Erina Iwata, who has just become a freelance announcer.'