Abe Natsumi & Ikusaburo Yamazaki Spotted at Japan Derby — The Princess and Prince Couple

Ikusaburo Yamazaki talks about his ideal image of a married couple

On June 1st, at Tokyo Racecourse (Fuchu City), the 92nd Japan Derby took place. Just before the race started, the stands, filled with a huge crowd, were tense and wrapped in silence. Then, the name Ikusaburo Yamazaki (39) was announced, and he appeared dressed in a tuxedo with a bow tie. He sang the national anthem solo, showcasing his beautiful voice.

Watching proudly from the stands was his wife, Natsumi Abe (43).

“Abe-san was watching Yamazaki-san from the VIP area at the top of the stands. After Yamazaki finished singing the anthem, he joined Abe-san.

Afterwards, they watched the Japan Derby with serious eyes. It seemed like they were cheering for a particular horse, pointing and loudly cheering together. Even after the race, they were very excited and looked like a very close couple,” said one spectator in the stands.

The two met in July 2011 when they co-starred as a married couple in the stage play Wuthering Heights. After dating for four years, they married in December 2015. At that time, Yamazaki sent a fax to the press, stating:

“During about four years of spending time facing each other, the feeling of wanting to spend life together naturally grew.”

The following year, their first son was born, followed by a second son in 2018 and a third son in 2022. Abe has since focused on raising their three children and has minimized her entertainment activities. In a 2023 interview regarding her stepping back from the spotlight for child-rearing, Abe said:

“While raising my children, the desire to properly raise them and be there as a mother naturally grew stronger, so I made that choice and I have no regrets,” (Asahi Shimbun Digital edition telling, just telling you, December 14, 2023).

In June 2024, on the Fuji TV show Talk Inns, when asked about the secret to their happy marriage, Yamazaki said:

“It’s about whether the woman can stay a princess.”

“If the husband can be gentle and supportive, and accept the wife’s princess moments, such couples seem very happy. That’s my ideal.”

Even after nine years of marriage, he said he still treats Abe like a princess.

As seen from their behavior on Derby day, the passionate relationship between this princess and prince couple continues unchanged.

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