Masahiro Higashide Announces Remarriage, With Support from Actresses He Lived With
Actor Masahiro Higashide (36) has announced his remarriage to Karin, a former actress who is now a private citizen. After a scandal involving infidelity four years ago, Higashide moved around Tokyo before eventually settling at the base of Mount Fuji. For about three years, he lived in the mountains, maintaining connections with local residents and friends from Tokyo who would visit. At this time, he has decided to start a new family.
“Karin-chan would frequently appear when Higashide’s acquaintances visited, and she would diligently attend to both Higashide and his guests. When she was around, the atmosphere would brighten up, and everyone’s mood would lift. Higashide often talks about history and natural sciences, topics that are hard for most people to keep up with. However, Karin-chan always managed to grasp and enhance Higashide’s conversations with perfect interjections, making the interactions more lively.
Higashide interacts with a wide range of people, including acquaintances from Tokyo, media reporters, and locals. But it always felt like Karin-chan was there with him.” (said one of Higashide’s acquaintances)
The two met about two years ago on a work set. Subsequently, three actresses, including Karin, moved to the area to obtain hunting licenses and relied on Higashide, who was a member of a hunting association. The three rented vacant houses and shared food, gradually integrating into the local community. Among the “three daughters,” Karin was particularly proactive in interacting with the locals and quickly got along with Higashide’s acquaintances. According to Higashide’s own announcement, they started dating earlier this year, but even within a year of meeting, they had already developed a close relationship.
“Karin-chan used to call Higashide ‘Nii-san’ and looked up to him. She helped with his house-building and ate the deer he cooked. In the beginning, Higashide seemed to keep a bit of distance by calling her by her last name, even though they got along particularly well among the ‘three daughters.’ It seemed like he wanted to maintain a boundary, treating her the same as the other two to avoid crossing any lines.
It appeared to me that Higashide was suppressing his feelings, which made me think he probably liked her. I believe the other two also understood that Higashide and Karin-chan would end up together. When everyone was together, it felt like they were just observing and supporting the enjoyment Higashide had with her without interfering.” (said the same acquaintance)
Having moved away from the city and found a partner he can trust again within a carefully chosen circle of relationships, Higashide is now receiving blessings from local residents who know the couple. They are celebrating the couple’s marriage and pregnancy with excitement, saying, “Things are going to be lively again!” In this supportive environment with friends watching over them, it is expected that Higashide will vow eternal love this time.
PHOTO.: Takao Kawakami Junsei Todoroki