[Exclusive Romance Scoop!] Naniwa Danshi’s Kento Nagao Spotted on a Secret Date at an Izakaya with Former E-girls Member Rio Inagaki

Shortly after 11 p.m. in early June, a man and a woman entered a Chinese-style izakaya located in a back alley of a downtown area bustling with tourists, one after the other.

They walked with their heads down, as if trying to avoid being noticed, but the man with the handsome features—visible even through his cap and mask—was Kento Nagao (23) of “Naniwa Danshi.”In contrast to Nagao, the woman walking confidently without a care for onlookers is Rio Inagaki (27), formerly of “E-girls.”

Nagao began his entertainment career as a child actor at the age of three and debuted with “Naniwa Danshi” in 2021. Although he is the youngest member, he has demonstrated his talent as the group’s costume producer, while in recent years he has also garnered attention as an actor through appearances in productions such as the NHK Taiga drama “What Will Ieyasu Do?”

“Nagao, with his sweet-faced good looks, took first place in the ‘NEXT’ category of a popular poll in a women’s fashion magazine in 2023 titled ‘National Treasure-Level Handsome Men Ranking.’ He is a member who is highly popular among fans as the ‘Young Man of the Reiwa Era.’In the movie *Revenge in Kobikicho*, released this past February, he played the role of Ino Kikunosuke, the fiancé of the lead character’s (played by Yu Emoto, 39) sister. His elegant demeanor and sword-fighting skills were highly praised. He was the talk of the industry for breaking new ground as an actor,” said a producer at a major network.

As for Inagaki, she debuted with “E-girls” in 2012 and left the group in 2015. Since then, she has been active as a YouTuber and model, as well as producing the apparel brand “RIELLE RICHÉ.”

The two settled into a table at the very back of the restaurant and spent about an hour enjoying their meal, tucking into the restaurant’s famous gyoza. After leaving the restaurant, they stopped by a nearby convenience store while keeping a certain distance between them, but Nagao quickly left the store. He turned back the way they came and, for some reason, entered the Chinese izakaya they had just left.

When he emerged from the restaurant again, he was clutching a smartphone that hadn’t been there before. …It seems he had gone back to retrieve the smartphone Inagaki had left behind.

Despite being a super-popular idol, he showed such devoted kindness by going back to retrieve her forgotten item. After meeting up with Inagaki, who had been waiting in front of the convenience store, the two walked side by side toward a nearby building. They got into the elevator together and entered a bar.

Even in the dark of night, the backs of this strikingly handsome man and beautiful woman exuded an extraordinary intimacy…

The June 12 issue of *FRIDAY* (June 26 & July 3 Combined Issue) and the paid version *FRIDAY GOLD* provide detailed coverage of the details of this “date for two” that night, as well as how the two have been acting since the report.

From the June 26 & July 3 Combined Issue of *FRIDAY*