Since as early as February, rumors have been floating around that actress Ryoko Shinohara is pregnant. Those initial reports turned out to be false, but the media has discovered that Shinohara is now with child, and has entered her fourth month of pregnancy.

Over the past few months, Shinohara has had to repeatedly deny rumors of pregnancy fueled by the tabloids. During one press event on September 3, she decided to preempt reporters' questions by saying she had been recently gaining weight. Because of her high heels, onlookers said she didn't look pregnant, but she was actually already in her second month.

Shinohara has been married to actor Masachika Ichimura since December 2005.