She graduated from the Bunka Women's University (文化女子大学) in Tokyo with a degree in figurative arts.
[citation needed] Standing 168 cm tall, she was one of the tallest Japanese models at the time.
[citation needed] Hatano made her TV debut in the drama Beach Boys (ビ−チボ−イズ), in 1997, playing a small role.
Some of the dramas she appeared became instant hits in Japan,[citation needed] helping her to establish herself in the Japanese TV industry.
On August 21, 2008, Hatano announced her intention to marry footballer Keita Suzuki, by whom she has been pregnant for two months beforehand.