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Ex-gravure idol from Japan, 34, marries S'porean co-worker, came to study English
"A lot of people think international marriage is difficult or challenging, but honestly, it's not always like that," she said.
Nadya Pang
April 06, 2026, 12:40 PM
A Japanese ex-gravure idol has gone viral for sharing her experience of being married to a Singaporean man on Instagram.
Mariya Tachibana, 34, was previously active as a gravure model and livestreamer from 2018 to February 2021, according to a post on X.
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Japanese gravure idols are glamour models who pose for more provocative shoots, typically in swimsuits or lingerie.
Her final photobook was released on Jul. 22, 2021, effectively concluding her career.
Came to study English
In an Instagram reel titled "What is international marriage really like?", Tachibana shared her experience being married to a Singaporean.
Her post has garnered 101,000 views, 1,400 likes, and 17 comments at the time of writing.
Tachibana hails from Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan.
She left Japan for Singapore to study English on Mar. 25, 2021.
In a post on X, she explained that as she turned 30, she wanted to study abroad and learn a language to improve herself and use that knowledge in her future activities.
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She attended school in Singapore for about 10 months on a student visa before finding work here.
She has lived in Singapore for the last five years.
Met husband at workplace
Tachibana shared on Instagram that she met her husband at their previous workplace.
"After dating for two years, we got married," she said.
She revealed their marriage on her 34th birthday in a post on X.
In her Instagram Reel, she admitted that the differences in language and culture are "huge".
She said: "'Normal' is often different, but that's true for any couple — it's all about compromise. Understanding each other's perspective is key."
Language barrier
Tachibana added that she and her husband mainly communicate in English.
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"Actually at first, I could hardly speak English, so I couldn't really have proper conversations," she said.
She said she eventually got used to speaking English and now communicates with him just fine.
But she still uses a translation app sometimes. "Please learn Japanese faster," she quipped.
Singaporean men are "very kind"
She added that she also believes that "Singaporean men are very kind".
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"A lot of people think international marriage is difficult or challenging, but honestly, it's not always like that," she said.
Tachibana said she would "definitely recommend international marriage".
