Shogo Taniguchi Shines at Both Ends—With Wife Rika Izumi by His Side and a Major Decision Ahead

“If we lose, I’ll blame ‘FRIDAY’ (laughs).”

Japan opened its 2026 FIFA World Cup group-stage campaign at Dallas Stadium in the United States, taking on powerhouse the Netherlands. Despite falling behind twice, Japan showed tremendous resilience, fighting back each time to earn a valuable 2-2 draw.

Against a team widely considered one of the tournament favorites, Japan delivered a composed and confident performance. At the heart of that effort was Shogo Taniguchi (34), who started and played the full 90 minutes as the central defender in Japan’s back three.

Under relentless pressure, Taniguchi threw himself into challenge after challenge to contain the Netherlands’ dangerous attack throughout the match. After Japan conceded, he gathered his teammates into a huddle to rally them, once again demonstrating his role as the emotional leader on the pitch.

Supporting Taniguchi behind the scenes throughout his rise on the world stage has been his wife, model and actress Rika Izumi (37), whom he married in June 2025.

“The two were introduced through a mutual friend. They hit it off immediately and quickly grew close. Their relationship is believed to have begun around the summer of 2015,” says a women’s magazine reporter.

Their romance developed into a serious relationship soon after they met. The public first learned of the relationship in September 2017, when “FRIDAY” published photos of the couple together.

At the time, the two were spotted sitting side by side at a stylish Chinese restaurant in Tokyo’s Ebisu district, enjoying a course meal together. Reporters observed Taniguchi quietly speaking to Izumi to avoid attracting attention as she remained conscious of those around them. Taniguchi, who was driving, also refrained from drinking alcohol—a gesture that reflected his considerate nature.

Three years later, in August 2020, FRIDAY again reported on what it described as the couple’s semi-cohabiting relationship. Taniguchi’s gracious response to reporters after practice has remained legendary within the magazine’s editorial office.

When reporters approached him after he arrived at Izumi’s apartment, Taniguchi denied that they were living together. Pointing toward an apartment building across from hers, he said:

“I live somewhere else. (Pointing toward the apartment across from hers.) Over there. We do go home together sometimes but we’re not living together.”

His honesty even extended to casually indicating where he lived. After acknowledging that he was dating Izumi, he added with a smile:

“If we lose the next match, I’ll blame FRIDAY. Just kidding (laughs).”

His combination of sincerity, good looks, and sense of humor won over not only the reporter covering the story, but fans as well.

A Serious Achilles Tendon Injury

“The two were clearly very much in love, but they didn’t marry until June 2025. It took a full decade of dating before they finally tied the knot. Apparently, there were circumstances on Taniguchi’s side that made it difficult for him to take that step,” says a sports newspaper reporter.

There was another story behind their 10-year romance.

“In November 2024, Taniguchi suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon—a devastating injury that threatened to derail his football career. However, after undergoing an intensive rehabilitation program, he made a remarkable return to the pitch in May 2025. During that incredibly difficult period, Izumi’s devoted support was said to have played a tremendous role in helping him recover. Getting married at that point only strengthened the bond between them,” the same sports newspaper reporter explains.

Taniguchi currently plays for a club in Belgium, where local media have praised him as one of the league’s finest defenders. Meanwhile, Izumi continues her work as a model and actress based in Japan, meaning the couple currently maintains a long-distance marriage.

“Taniguchi’s contract with his Belgian club is reportedly set to expire this summer after the World Cup. The club wants to extend his deal, and several other overseas teams have also made offers. Belgian media have reported that life with his wife, Izumi, who lives in Japan, will be one of the factors in deciding his next club, which shows just how important she is to him,” says a football magazine writer.

In June, it was reported that his former club, Kawasaki Frontale, where he spent nine years, had made him an offer to return. Whatever decision Taniguchi ultimately makes, there is little doubt that his wife, Rika Izumi, has been a vital source of support behind his success at this World Cup.

As the couple continues to move forward together, hand in hand, many will be watching to see what lies ahead.

[YouTube] On FRIDAY Digital’s “Entertainment Reporters Channel,” active entertainment journalists take an in-depth look at the wives and families supporting Japan’s World Cup squad in a feature titled “The Unexpected Stories of the Wives Behind Japan’s World Cup Team.” The program explores the family stories behind the national team’s intense campaign and offers a closer look at the women supporting the players behind the scenes.