2024 has been quite the year for celebrity weddings, with many fans celebrating their favorite couples tying the knot. A total of several high-profile marriages among Japanese celebrities have taken place this year, bringing joy and excitement to admirers across the nation.
One of the notable highlights was the wedding of KinKi Kids’ Tsuyoshi Domoto, who shocked fans when he announced on January 11, 2024, his marriage to Kawaii Momota of Momoiro Clover Z. The couple’s 15-year age difference—Domoto being 44 and Momota just 29—was certainly the talk of the town, stirring interest and sparking discussions about age-gap relationships.
Following suit, on January 16, KAT-TUN's Yuichi Nakamaru married Rina Sasazaki, a well-known free announcer for Nippon Television. Their bond blossomed during their appearances together on Nikkei’s news program, garnering the nickname "Shuichi Marriage" amid well-wishes from the public.
March 12, 2024, saw NEWS member Keiichiro Yamamoto publicly married Misako Uno from AAA. The joy continued at the end of the month when fellow actors Yuki Yamada and Nanase Nishino exchanged vows, capturing the admiration of the entire entertainment world.
The whirlwind of weddings didn’t stop there; on May 16, popular actor Issei Takahashi and actress Marie Iitoyo made headlines with their 17-year age gap marriage—Takahashi aged 43 and Iitoyo only 26. Their union drew significant attention and discussions around the representation of age differences among couples.
June 7 bore witness to the wedding of Daiki Arioka from Hey! Say! JUMP and actress Mayu Matsuoka, showcasing yet another glamorous coupling. Following this, former Nogizaka46 member Kazumi Takayama surprised fans on July 7 when she tied the knot with QuizKnock member Fukura P.
Brandishing even more newsworthy events, actor Kengo Kora married Kanako Tahara, the daughter of famed singer Toshihiko Tahara, on October 4. Their union was widely discussed, not just because of the personal connections but also due to their shared expertise and renown within the entertainment industry.
Further, on October 13, Hiro, the vocalist of My First Story, married actress Maika Yamamoto. All these unions have members of the public eagerly scrolling through social media for updates and photographs.
The celebrity marriage rush continued, with actors Masaki Okada and Mitsuki Takahata announcing their marriage on November 19, and following closely behind was the wedding of Shota Goto and former AKB48 member Yui Yokoyama on December 2.
This year wasn’t solely reserved for celebrity pairings; numerous famous personalities announced their engagement to individuals outside the public eye. For example, singers Thelma Aoyama and TBS newscaster Shinichiro Azumi, NEWS's Shigeaki Kato, and former members of Morning Musume made headlines as they transitioned to more private lives with their partners.
On October 11, 2024, baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani shared the news of his marriage to former basketball player Mamiko Tanaka, truly taking the sports and entertainment realms by storm.
Even famed snowboarder Ayumu Hirano and Japanese national soccer team member Ritsu Doan found love outside their celebrity circles, tying the knot with non-celebrity partners, demonstrating the varied personal lives these athletes lead when not under the spotlight.
With such plentiful developments, fans are left wondering what 2025 may hold for celebrity relationships. Will more big names follow suit? With the media spotlight on their lives and public adoration pouring from fans, it’s exciting to contemplate who might be the next to make waves with wedding announcements.
Such events bring everyone together, showcasing not only love but the celebration of life’s milestones among those who entertain us on screens and stages. Now, as the year wraps up, the celebration of these unions and the discussions they provoke can only lead to great anticipation for the relationships and weddings yet to come.
