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

Inoue, wary of her surroundings, got into the taxi and after a few minutes of driving, she got out of the car. She must have been suddenly called by someone. She seemed to be searching for the destination or was confusedly looking at the screen of her smartphone. Eventually, she arrived at a high-end yakiniku restaurant with private rooms, despite it being just before last order. Inoue entered the restaurant without hesitation.

 

Despite it being a late-night outing where she wouldn’t attract attention, Inoue’s excessive vigilance had a reason, of course. It was none other than because someone was waiting for her at the yakiniku restaurant. Who that someone was would become clear about three hours later.

 

Two hours past closing time, at 2 in the morning with the entrance locked, Inoue emerged from the employees’ entrance of the now darkened and deserted restaurant. While she beckoned the wary employees looking around, she got into a taxi alone and headed towards her home.

 

Five minutes later, Jun Matsumoto, wearing sunglasses, emerged from the employees’ entrance, followed by the then 29-year-old Ikuta Toma, also from Johnny’s. They hailed a taxi on the street and disappeared into a residential area.

 

There were other nights when Inoue went out late at night. Some days she disguised herself with hat, glasses, and mask, while on other days she wore makeup perfectly without a hat. On each of those days, she cast sharp glances at every passerby, disappearing into the darkness of the night with caution. It was likely that her rendezvous was indeed with Matsumoto. A certain entertainment industry insider testified at the time about the relationship between the two.