Gorō Inagaki Seen in High Spirits on Six-Hour Ginza Bar Crawl, Embracing Bachelor Life

Passersby did a double take

Even in his fifties, the aura of a star remains unmistakable.

At around 5:30 p.m. in late May, Gorō Inagaki (52) appeared in Tokyo’s Ginza district wearing sunglasses, wavy hair, and a pair of shorts. Dressed in a cool, summery outfit, he was seen emerging from a building that houses a luxury watch boutique. Although he wore a cap and concealed his eyes behind sunglasses, his celebrity presence was impossible to hide. Like this magazine’s reporter, passersby who recognized Inagaki couldn’t help but take a second look.

Unfazed by the attention, Inagaki and the male acquaintance beside him hailed a taxi and headed a few minutes away to a popular yakitori restaurant. The establishment is an ultra-upscale venue with an average bill of around ¥15,000 per person. With more than 300 varieties of wine and private dining rooms, it was the perfect choice for Inagaki—a well-known wine enthusiast and celebrity.

They drank for six straight hours

“He’s one of the entertainment industry’s biggest wine lovers. The Japan Sommelier Association named him an honorary member, and he was even awarded the Order of the Wine Knights by Bordeaux, France, one of the world’s premier wine-producing regions. In 2019, he also produced an Italian restaurant centered around wine. I’ve heard he can really hold his liquor,” said a senior executive at an entertainment agency.

About an hour and a half after entering the luxury yakitori restaurant, it seemed as though Inagaki and his companion might be heading home after enjoying their meal.

Instead, they made their way to an upscale nightclub nearby.

More than four hours later, shortly after 1:00 a.m., Inagaki emerged from the club accompanied by several attractive women who appeared to be employees of the establishment.

His stamina in managing a six-hour bar-hopping session from start to finish was certainly impressive.

The June 26–July 3 combined issue of “FRIDAY,” released on June 12, along with the paid digital edition “FRIDAY GOLD,” features a detailed report on Inagaki’s extremely rare tipsy appearance—something that would have been unimaginable during his days as a member of SMAP.

For the full story and additional photos, click below.

From the June 26 & July 3, 2026, combined issue of “FRIDAY”