Nagano Mei & Tanaka Kei Face Challenges Together — The Powerful Meaning Behind Their Confirmed Statements

“We have not had such exchanges.”

Actress Mei Nagano (25) and actor Kei Tanaka (40) appear ready to face their fate together.

On April 24, the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun reported allegations of an affair between the two. The report included photos of them holding hands intimately and showed Nagano inviting a drunken Tanaka into her apartment. It was also reported that on a different day, Nagano met secretly with Korean actor Kim Moo-jun, who co-stars with her in the Sunday drama Caster (TBS).

Following the Bunshun scoop, both Nagano and Tanaka issued comments to some media outlets, completely denying the affair and stating that acquaintances and Nagano’s mother were present at her home.

However, Bunshun struck again with a second arrow, publishing new intimate photos and alleged LINE message exchanges between the two.

The affectionate messages clearly go beyond a mere professional relationship. The leaked LINE chats recall the infamous 2016 scandalous affair involving Becky and Enon Kawatani.

In response, Nagano’s agency stated firmly:

“Upon confirming with Nagano herself regarding the message exchanges reported in some media, she denies having such exchanges. Also, Kei Tanaka is one of her senior actor colleagues, and there is no relationship such as dating between them.“

Tanaka’s agency echoed this stance:

“We confirmed with Kei Tanaka, and he denies any such message exchanges. The agency wants to believe what Tanaka says.“

Both agencies insisted that the alleged LINE exchanges are things they have no recollection of.

Still, the comments reveal the agencies’ careful positioning. A TV station insider explained:

“Both agencies used the phrase upon confirming with the individual as a form of excuse. After that, they say they believe the explanations of their talents. When a scandal breaks, agencies first listen to their talents’ side, then gather information from those around them to check consistency. Ultimately, they have no choice but to believe in their talents.“

The official comments from the agencies carry significant weight. If it turns out that Nagano and Tanaka deceived their agencies, they will likely face severe consequences.

Nagano and Tanaka have reached the point of no return

The bond between a production company and its talents is built on trust. Cases where talents get fired often happen not because of illegal acts, but when the trust between both parties is broken.

Recently, “Reiwa Roman,” Takahira Kuruma, who made history by winning the M-1 Grand Prix twice in a row, was asked by Yoshimoto Kogyo to terminate his contract and became independent. Kuruma’s name came up in an online casino gambling scandal, and he uploaded an apology video on YouTube without Yoshimoto’s permission. This was seen by Yoshimoto as a solo move.

“Even if they are a golden egg, if trust breaks down, we cannot support them. This is a rule in every entertainment agency,” said an industry insider.

Actress Nana Katase, who left the major agency Ken-On in September 2021, is another example.

In July that year, a weekly magazine reported that Katase’s boyfriend, who she was living with, was arrested for drug possession. Katase also took a urine test during the investigation. Before the case came to light, Katase told the agency during a hearing that she had broken up with her boyfriend. Although Katase’s test results were clean, the agency saw her lie as a problem, and she later left the agency.

“Looking at these precedents, Nagano and Tanaka have already reached a point of no return. Even when intimate photos and LINE messages emerged, both keep denying and say they are just actor colleagues. By including the phrase after confirming with the person themselves in the agency’s comment, they clearly placed responsibility on the two. If their denials turn out to be false, the damage to Nagano and Tanaka would be immeasurable,” said the same industry insider.

Meanwhile, companies such as Sunstar, JCB, and Aicity, who had cast Nagano as a commercial character, have withdrawn their ads. If more new facts or testimonies come out, the agency might have to make a heavy decision soon.