Actress Sairi Ito, aged 30, made headlines after announcing her marriage during her internet radio program "Sairi Ito's Saireek Channel" on January 4. Her husband is the 48-year-old playwright Ryuta Horai, with whom she was linked romantically since 2022.
"Everyone, I, Sairi Ito, have decided to marry the playwright and director Ryuta Horai, with whom I have been dating for some time... I got married!" she joyfully declared. Her engagement story captures the hearts of many as she revealed their romance openly.
The couple's connection reportedly blossomed during the filming of the NHK television series "Tora ni Tsubasa," where Sairi played the leading role, culminating with her hosting duties at the New Year’s Eve song contest, "Kohaku Uta Gassen." This milestone winter season also marked her personal highlight of tying the knot.
During the radio broadcast, Sairi dramatically recounted the proposal, which she described as emotional and intimate. Horai serenaded her with the song "Yome ni Konai ka" by Kenji Niinuma upon her late-night return home, leading to tears of joy. "He sang, and I ended up crying. At one point during the song, he knelt down and presented me with the ring. He told me, 'I really love your smiling face, and I want to create many opportunities for you to smile,'" she explained, highlighting the tenderness of the moment.
The announcement was met with overwhelming affection on social media, where fans quickly shared their congratulations.
Sairi and Ryuta’s relationship was first reported by "FRIDAY Digital" on April 11, 2022. During the initial inquiries about their relationship, Sairi maintained her characteristic playful demeanor, joking about the public interest. She took to her social media to confirm their romance, stating, "For now, I hope you will watch over us warmly. #18YearDifference."
While there was no official confirmation from Ryuta about plans for marriage at the time, he expressed hopes for nurturing their relationship. "We decided to take our time thinking about the future, so we don’t know what will happen, but I hope we can continue getting along well," he remarked.
Sairi's announcement and the details surrounding her relationship with Horai highlight not just their personal love story but also the reactions of the public, who have shown immense support for the couple.