Japanese actor Masaki Okada and actress Mitsuki Takahata play a married couple in the TV series '1122: For A Happy Marriage'. Photo: 1122/Instagram
Japanese actor Masaki Okada and actress Mitsuki Takahata surprised the Japanese entertainment industry on Nov 19 when they confirmed their marriage on social media.
Sharing an identical statement on their respective Instagram accounts, they wrote in Japanese: “Both of us began acting in our teens and have come this far thanks to our encounters with countless wonderful people and projects, and above all, the support of everyone.
“We are very happy, but also a little nervous, that the day has come when we can make this announcement. We have got along well like best friends, but from now on, we will be husband and wife.
“We intend to work even harder, caring for and encouraging each other, so that we can show everyone a better version of ourselves in our work, and we hope you will continue to support us warmly.”
The marriage came as a surprise as there was hardly any news of the couple dating.
Their statement came after Japanese media outlet Sponichi Annex broke the news on Nov 19 that they were getting married soon.
Okada, 35, and Takahata, 32, star in the recent Prime Video series 1122: For A Happy Marriage (2024). They play a couple who agree to have affairs after years of a sexless marriage.
Filming of the series, adapted from the Japanese manga series of the same name, took place in 2023.
According to Sponichi Annex, this was the first time Okada and Takahata were acting together. As they were playing a married couple, they spent a lot of time together, even chatting during breaks in filming.
It was reported that Takahata taught Okada how to use Instagram when the actor set up an account in October 2023. They began dating in 2024.
Sponichi Annex said the couple had already told their parents, relatives and close friends of their marriage plans, as well as informed their respective agencies.
Takahata is reportedly ordering outfits from a luxury brand for her wedding photos. Okada’s agency told the media the couple will complete their marriage registration by year-end.
Takahata had earlier dropped clues in interviews when she was promoting 1122: For A Happy Marriage in June.
Since she was playing a married woman in the show, she said that it would be great to be married, that her life would be more complete if she had someone to share it with.
She made her acting debut in junior high school and gained fame in Japan after starring in the NHK drama Toto Neechan (2016). She is currently starring in the NHK historical drama Dear Radiance.
Meanwhile, Okada has starred in the Japanese film Drive My Car, which won Best International Feature Film at the Oscars in 2022. He was also in TV series such as The Tiger And Her Wings and the movie Last Mile in 2024. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
