Playback 2014: Mao Inoue’s Midnight Adventure and Yakiniku Date with Jun Matsumoto

Ten years ago, twenty years ago, thirty years ago, what was “FRIDAY” reporting? Let’s take a look back at topics that were hot at the time with “Playback Friday.” This time, we deliver the article from the May 9-16, 2014 issue titled “Big Two Extremely Cautious – Mao Inoue and ‘Arashi’ Jun Matsumoto ‘Late-night Yakiniku Shop’ Private Room Encounter.”

Mao Inoue (then 27) and Jun Matsumoto (then 30) reportedly started dating after co-starring in the first season of “Hana Yori Dango” (TBS series) in 2005. Despite eyewitness accounts such as wearing matching rings and Matsumoto coming to see Inoue’s stage play, and occasional rumors of marriage, there had never been actual sightings of their interactions, leading to their relationship becoming somewhat of an urban legend. This article captures the scene of their date that had never been caught before.

The reason why no decisive scenes had been reported so far was that their dates were carried out under ultra-high-security measures with the cooperation of those around them.

 

Late-night outing wearing a hat, glasses, and mask.

After about three hours since returning home, at half past ten in the evening, Inoue, alone, left her house to catch a taxi by the curb. The complete disguise of hat, glasses, and mask indicated that the place she was heading to was special.