Kamenashi and Tanaka Minami Love Affair Report: Exclusive BTS Actions Make Headlines

On January 1st, serious dating between KAT-TUN’s Kazuya Kamenashi and freelance announcer/actress Minami Tanaka was reported in some sports newspapers. The two reportedly hit it off during a dialogue published in a magazine last year, and they have been deepening their friendship during the filming of the upcoming TV Asahi drama “Destiny,” scheduled to air in April this year. Recently, footage from the filming of the same drama was released, and some fans reacted to a certain action taken only by Kamenashi and Tanaka.

 

In the November 2023 issue of the monthly beauty magazine “MAQIA” (published by Shueisha), which was released in September last year, the two became a hot topic for their beauty dialogue, featuring them leaning their faces close together in a photo shoot. They also co-starred in “Destiny,” which was filmed from summer to fall of the same year. According to the Sports Nippon newspaper dated January 1st, the duration of their relationship is reported to be several months.

According to entertainment insiders familiar with both Kamenashi and Tanaka, both in their late thirties, it is said to be a courtship with marriage in mind, especially considering Tanaka’s desire to have children.

“Both are born in 1986, currently 37 years old. It’s not surprising to consider marriage at this age. With many fans, idols from the former Johnny’s office (now ‘SMILE-UP.’) were traditionally seen to face high hurdles towards marriage. However, following the founder Johnny Kitagawa’s sexual harassment scandal, the agency underwent restructuring and started afresh as a new management company called Starto Entertainment. In January, KinKi Kids’ Tsuyoshi Domoto announced his marriage to Momoiro Clover Z’s Kanako Momota, and KAT-TUN’s Yukihiro Nakamaru announced his marriage to former Nippon Television announcer Rina Sasazaki. The change in the agency’s structure, making it easier for personal wishes to be granted, is likely one of the reasons.”

In late January, the main cast of “Destiny” was revealed. It had already been announced that Satomi Ishihara would play the lead role opposite Kamenashi, and that Tanaka, actress Emma Miyazawa, and actor Yuma Yamoto would appear as their college classmates.

On the 24th, an article on the web version of Sankei Sports titled “Tanaka Minami & Kamenashi Kazuya co-star in drama for the first time – Relationship revealed on New Year’s Day! The rumored big couple – Ishihara Satomi and university classmates! Also starring Miyazawa Emma and Yamoto Yuma” was published. It seems that the drama itself has already finished filming, but fans on social networking sites are still wondering if they can watch the drama.

“I can’t watch Kame-chan’s spring drama.”
“I was looking forward to Kame-chan’s drama, but if Tanaka Minami is also in it. It’s going to be tough to watch.”

They are already lamenting. On the other hand,

“The drama is starting to feel too promotional.”
“I don’t trust the article claiming that the two are in a relationship.”

Some people see it as mere publicity.

Indeed, the drama “Destiny” has been gathering high attention even before its broadcast begins. On the 24th, the official X (formerly Twitter) account uploaded a video of the day they started filming. In it, there was a moment that conveyed “the excellent chemistry between Kamenashi and Tanaka” (as mentioned by the aforementioned entertainment writer).

“In the video, the staff introduced the four main actors starting with the lead, Ishihara Satomi, followed by the four playing classmates. Perhaps due to the summer filming, they all had umbrellas. Ishihara bowed while holding her umbrella, saying ‘Thank you for your cooperation,’ while Kamenashi, called second, lowered his umbrella slightly and greeted those around him. Then followed Miyazawa, Tanaka, and Yamoto. Interestingly, among the cast, only Kamenashi and Tanaka took off their umbrellas to respond to the greetings. Perhaps they felt it would be disrespectful to keep their umbrellas up while greeting the staff, similar to taking off one’s hat.” (Same source)

In response to the two’s behavior

“Kamenashi, who greeted while lowering his umbrella, seemed very polite, and then I noticed Tanaka Minami doing the same thing.”
“Lowering the umbrella during greetings is an action that Kamenashi fans would find understandable. Tanaka-san must be that kind of person too.”
“Kamenashi-kun and Tanaka-san, taking off their umbrellas to greet, as expected~!”

And there were voices of surprise.

At the time of filming, Kamenashi and Tanaka seemed to get along well. How will their interactions be portrayed in the drama?