Japanese actor Masaki Okada turned the showbiz world upside down when he and actress Mitsuki Takahata made their marriage public via social media on Nov. 19.
As quoted by the Straits Times, they stated, "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."
That news came soon after Japanese media outlet Sponichi Annex reported on their marriage plans. The couple worked together recently on the 2024 Prime Video series 1122: For A Happy Marriage.
Okada is 35, and Takahata is 32. On the show, they play a couple in a sexless marriage who agree to open it up to affairs.
This was their first project together at which time they developed a close friendship while filming.
Okada — who was reported to have had her Instagram account set up by Takahata in October — started dating Takahata at the beginning of this year. The couple has made the announcement to their families and their respective agencies, according to Sponichi Annex.
It also reported that Takahata is apparently choosing outfits from a high-end fashion house for their wedding shots, and Okada office papers have provided that they set out the marriage.
In June, she teased marriage about promotional rounds for their show, noting it would be nice to find someone special to share her life with.
Takahata became an overnight sensation thanks to her performance in the 2016 NHK drama Toto Neechan and is currently appearing in the historical drama Dear Radiance.
Okada earned international fame for his part in "Drive My Car," the Academy Award-winning film, and starred in many well-known TV dramas and movies.
Fans are thrilled for the couple as they step into this new chapter, though many were caught off guard by the announcement.
