Shintaro Morimoto and Aoi Morikawa’s Romance Exposed Amid Criticism and Ex-Boyfriend’s Success

A love affair has been reported between Shintaro Morimoto of SixTONES and Aoi Morikawa, who played a married couple in the April drama “Machinami Terasu Yatsura” (Nippon Television Network). According to Bunshun Online, the two enjoyed a trip to Thailand in early August.

 

“It seems they went on a whirlwind 2-night, 3-day trip to Thailand despite their busy schedules. Fans of Morimoto were shocked to see them walking together in the plane and at the airport, and even holding arms. There were also sightings of them in photos where Morikawa was looking directly at the camera, leading to criticism with questions like ‘Did she know she was being photographed?'” (Entertainment reporter)

 

Co-star Killer and Big-Shot Eater 

Morikawa has previously been rumored to have had romantic relationships with Issei Takahashi and Nakano Taiga, leading to her being viewed with envy by women who are fans of Morimoto, as she is seen as a “co-star killer” or “big shot Eater.” This reputation comes from the fact that her former boyfriends have all achieved significant success after dating her.

“In 2016, Takahashi Issei and Morikawa collaborated on the TV shows ‘Itsuka Kono Koi o Omoidashite Kitto Naite Shimau’ (Fuji TV) and ‘Princess Maison’ (NHK). At the time, when Takahashi appeared as a guest on ‘A-Studio’ (TBS), where Morikawa was an assistant, Morikawa expressed her admiration for him, saying things like ‘I really like his face,’ ‘He’s totally my type,’ and ‘Issei-sama.’

As a result, it’s said that their relationship started somewhat like a reverse pick-up. Morikawa, who is also famous as a teen magazine model and influencer, dramatically improved Takahashi’s previously lackluster fashion sense. Since then, Takahashi has seen a significant increase in offers for lead roles in dramas, movies, and TV commercials.” (From a female weekly magazine desk)

 

In 2017, they appeared together in a project for the September issue of Bijutsu Techo, which led to a relationship. Their appearance together, without any disguises, was reported by this magazine and many other media outlets.

 

Nakano plays the role of the heroine Ito Sairi’s husband in the morning drama Tora ni Tsubasa (NHK). In the April season, he stars alongside Koike Eiko in Kisetsu no Nai Machi (TV Tokyo), and in the July season, he co-stars with her again in Shinjuku Yasen Byouin (Fuji TV). He has also been cast as the lead in the 2026 historical drama Toyotomi Kyoudai!

 

“Despite being a supporting actor, he is now a leading actor among his peers. He and Morikawa were in a relationship for about three years. What’s remarkable about Morikawa is not only that the men she dates go on to become hugely popular actors, but also that both parties move on without any hard feelings, with the men quickly finding happiness with new partners. In fact, Morikawa is currently one of the most sought-after interviewees among the editorial team.” (Women’s magazine desk)

 

Famous since third grade

So, what is the industry’s evaluation of Shintaro Morimoto, the current boyfriend?

 

“Although ‘SixTONES’ made their CD debut only four years ago and have been together for less than ten years, he was already extremely famous as a child actor when he joined the industry in third grade. He had his first lead role in the 2009 film Snow Prince: The Forbidden Melody. Furthermore, his performance in the April 2023 drama But, Passionate (Nippon TV) received high praise from many drama critics and comedians.” (Private TV drama producer)

 

Morimoto delivered a strong performance as Ryota Yamasato from Nankai Candies. His acting skills were highly praised by viewers, receiving widespread acclaim.

 

In sexy Outfit.

The Saturday Drama 10 slot, which was initially planned for Tsuyoshi Muro’s Taatan, was unexpectedly changed. Due to unresolved issues with Sexy Tanaka-san, which aired in the same slot in October 2023, Muro withdrew from the project, leading to the sudden decision to produce Machinami Terasu Yatsura instead.

“Machinami Terasu Yatsura is also a niche work with a cast of acting professionals, and Morimoto-kun played the lead role with great poise. Despite the grueling schedule with a hastily assembled cast, Morikawa-san emerged as a mood maker on set. Morimoto-kun reportedly had full trust in her, particularly due to her daring performances in sexy outfits.

While Morimoto may have slightly less recognition and exposure compared to Takahashi-san or Nakano-san, he is frequently discussed as an exciting actor to watch in the near future” (TV magazine writer).

Given Morikawa Ao’s impressive skills and the impact she’s had on Morimoto’s heart and career, she will likely continue to be a notable figure in the industry.