Kento Nagao’s Romance Rumors Revive Old Wounds for Naniwa Danshi

A love triangle with Kis-My-Ft2’s Kento Senga in 2023

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the seven-member group “Naniwa Danshi.” Just as the group was preparing to kick off its concert tour on July 11, news broke that member Kento Nagao (23) is dating former “E-girls” member and influencer Rio Inagaki (27), sending fans into an uproar.

The June 12 issue of “FRIDAY” published photos documenting the pair’s close relationship. Shortly after 11 p.m. on an evening in early June, the two finished dinner at a hidden-gem Chinese-style izakaya. They left separately, reunited at a convenience store, and then headed to a nearby bar together.

Perhaps because he already knew the report was coming, Nagao appeared noticeably subdued during the June 8 broadcast of TBS’s “CDTV Live! Live!.” Although “Naniwa Danshi” performed a special five-song medley, Nagao’s expression remained stiff, and even his smiles seemed forced.

Seemingly concerned for his bandmate, group leader Kazuya Ohashi (28) put an arm around Nagao’s shoulders and struck a pose just before the program cut to commercials. During the performance, he also exchanged reassuring glances with Nagao. An entertainment reporter for a sports newspaper commented:

“As the leader, Ohashi was clearly trying to keep the group composed. He’s known for being considerate and has earned the trust of the other members. On social media, many fans expressed concern about the burden he’s been carrying.”

In fact, “Naniwa Danshi” had only recently managed to recover from a difficult period three years earlier.

In August 2023, member Daigo Nishihata (29) was reported to be dating Kaho Adachi (26), an announcer for “Yomiuri TV.” Nishihata was even photographed leaving Adachi’s apartment wearing a blond wig in an apparent attempt at disguise.

The following month, reports emerged that Nagao had spent the night with a former adult video actress. At the time, she was reportedly dating Kento Senga (35) of “Kis-My-Ft2,” fueling rumors of a love triangle involving Senga and Nagao.

Then, in November of the same year, member Kyohei Takahashi (26) was reported by some media outlets to be romantically involved with gravure idol Hikari Kuroki (25).

Discussions led by Ohashi

At the time, the agency was already reeling from the late Johnny Kitagawa’s sexual abuse scandal. Fans and industry insiders felt it was only natural to criticize the group for becoming embroiled in romance rumors while “Johnny’s” itself was in crisis.

A music industry source recalled:

“2023 was a really dangerous year. No one knew what was going to happen to the agency, and one wrong move could have meant the end of the group. For the fans, it was a dark year. Back then, the members got together—led by their leader, Kazuya Ohashi—and made a pledge to stay away from drinking parties where women were present and focus solely on their work. The reason there weren’t any scandals for a while afterward was because they kept that promise.”

Now, three years later, Nagao’s latest dating report has broken that streak. While some fans acknowledge that remaining scandal-free for three years was an achievement, others have criticized the timing, coming as it does during the group’s milestone fifth anniversary year.

Comments online include:

“Enough already!”

“Stop causing trouble for the other members.”

According to the entertainment reporter quoted earlier:

“Nagao is said to have apologized to the other members for causing them trouble. This is the second time he’s been linked romantically in the media, following the report involving the former adult video actress. Even so, none of the members reportedly condemned him, which only made him feel even more guilty. Meanwhile, leader Kazuya Ohashi is apparently doing everything he can to ensure the group’s fifth anniversary celebrations are a success.”

With speculation growing that the group may once again impose an unofficial ban on late-night partying and social gatherings, Ohashi’s worries appear to be mounting. Fans can only hope the group doesn’t experience another wave of scandals like the one that unfolded three years ago.