There have been a couple of recent marriages involving major music stars. Dreams Come True member Nakamura Masato (49) and the much younger Onaga Maki (20) of the band High and Mighty Color got hitched on June 22, though the news didn’t break until this month. Both musicians have seen their blogs overwhelmed with comments, particularly as Onaga has said she may quit the band within the year.
Meanwhile, talento/actress Megumi and Dragon Ash frontman Furuya Kenji are married and expecting a baby. The couple registered their marriage at a Tokyo municipal office on July 7, the date of the traditionally romantic festival of Tanabata. Though she started out as just another busty pinup model, Megumi has managed to carve out a career as an actress and variety show regular. Currently three months pregnant, she has pulled out of a theatrical production planned for early August but says she will continue doing TV work as long as her condition allows. The two started dating in 2006 and have been living in a house in Tokyo since last year.
• Comedian Matsumoto Hitoshi (44) of the popular duo Downtown has a new romantic interest. According to the July 3 issue of women’s weekly magazine “Josei Seven,” he is now dating half-Korean talento Ihara Rin (25), the weather girl on NTV’s morning show “Zoom In! Super.”
• Less happy news for actress Kato Ai (25) and soccer star Nakata Koji (29). Romance between the actress and the former Japan national team defender was first reported back in April 2004. As recently as the beginning of this year there were rumors of marriage. But sources close to both say they have split up. Kato’s agency said simply “She is currently in new York and we have heard no news of a breakup.”