Japanese comedian and actress, Itoh-Asako, opened up about her most unforgettable day during the Japanese television special "A Day to Remember" aired on February 2, 2025, on Nippon Television. The program showcases celebrities recounting pivotal moments from their lives using reenactments and rare footage.
For Itoh, the day she treasures dates back to the summer of 1990 when she experienced love for the first time. A graduate of an all-girls school, it was her first fling with genuine feelings for someone of the opposite sex. The romance blossomed when she worked part-time at the pool of a city hotel, where she met a handsome actor named Nakamura, who resembled Bruce Lee and aspired to become a movie director.
On her very first day at work, Itoh described Nakamura as almost angelic, glowing with light. "I felt destined to be with him," she reminisced, highlighting the deep infatuation she developed. Besides Nakamura, there was another co-worker who showed interest, even going as far as to pick her up from her home.
Itoh’s situation played out like the perfect romantic comedy. She would eagerly check the work schedule, hoping to find overlapping shifts with Nakamura. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the chance to be alone together until September when their shifts aligned after the pool season had ended. She fantasized about how to approach him, preparing herself for what she hoped would be their first date.
On the fateful night, Itoh was anxious to act, returning to the dressing room immediately after her shift ended. “If I let him leave before me, all would be lost,” she thought. She devised her plan to wait near the elevator to catch him by surprise. Fate intervened as she encountered another colleague who was also interested, but quickly managed to navigate her way back to Nakamura.
Finally alone with him on the elevator, she had planned to invite him out for drinks but was so nervous she struggled to find her voice. Then, unexpectedly, Nakamura proposed, “Shall we go out for drinks?” To which Itoh felt elated.
The venue for their night out was unique—a concept café inspired by the movie "Iinumar Jane," directed by the popular musician Kyu Sakamoto’s band, Southern All-Stars. “I was so happy to see him! We shared drinks and food,” Itoh recalled fondly as the café played the film’s theme song on loop.
A particularly amusing moment happened when Nakamura ordered onion rings; Itoh was concerned about how messy they could be. But, displaying his gentlemanly side, Nakamura offered to cut them down to size using knives and forks to assist her. "He cut them for me; what a kind man!” she exclaimed joyfully on the show.
During their cozy date, Nakamura began discussing his dreams of creating romantic films and even made the playful suggestion, "I’ll make you the star of my movies one day!" The heartfelt nature of this moment prompted the show's host, Sho Sakurai from Arashi, to enthusiastically remark, “Isn’t this just the best story?”
They continued to flirt and bond throughout the evening, with Nakamura inviting Itoh to his place for another drink after the café closed. This charming memory left the audience reflective about their own pivotal moments of love, perfectly encapsulating Rebecca’s sentiment of unforgettable first experiences.
“For me, it was more than just one day; it was the day when my heart truly awakened,” Itoh shared, leaving viewers inspired by the simplicity and purity of young love, marking the significance of their shared experiences. This memorable episode reinforces the beauty of personal history and resonates with audiences eager for heartwarming stories on Japanese television.