〈The Birth of a Reiwa-Era Romantic Power Couple〉 Ryoki Miyama & Maria Hanano: The “Unexpected Demand” Behind Their Unapologetic Text Messages
Someone quite close to him
Allegations of a mutual affair between Ryoki Miyama (27), a former member of “BE:FIRST” who is now working as an actor, and actress Maria Hanano (33), the former top female lead of the Takarazuka Revue’s Flower Troupe, continue to cause a stir.
The July 23 issue of *Shukan Bunshun* reported that the two had frequently met in secret at luxury hotels in Tokyo and in the home theater room of Miyama’s apartment.The reports of their daily secret meetings—despite both being married with children—sent shockwaves through the public. However, in the magazine’s second installment, released on July 30, the publication revealed an email exchange that was shockingly “unremorseful” immediately after they were confronted by reporters, reigniting public criticism.
“In the leaked emails, when Hanano wrote, ‘Somehow… I can’t believe this is real,’ and ‘It’s the calm before the storm, isn’t it…,’ Miyama replied, ‘I know this calm before the storm all too well…’‘Bunshun during the *Crash Landing on You* run?’ and ‘Isn’t this the birth of a Reiwa-era romance star couple??’“Far from showing any consideration for those involved in the musical *Crash Landing on You*, in which they were co-starring, the two seemed to be patting themselves on the back over the revelation of their affair with their ‘insider banter,’ prompting a flood of criticism online,” said a reporter for a women’s magazine.
Regarding the fact that the two were staying at a different hotel on the very night they were confronted by reporters, as well as the immediate leak of their private emails, a source at an entertainment agency commented:
“The source must be someone very close to them. I sense a strong desire to ‘make the relationship between Ms. Miyama and Ms. Hana public,’”
said.
Inquiries regarding Hanano
Meanwhile, this scandal has reportedly led to some unexpected developments.
Since leaving Takarazuka, Hanano has focused her career on stage performances, such as musicals. Although she has worked as a reporter on shows like “ZIP!” (Nippon TV), she wasn’t particularly well-known outside of Takarazuka fan circles.
However, her profile has skyrocketed due to this controversy. With renewed attention on her looks—which are said to resemble Haruka Ayase—demand for her is reportedly surging.
In an interview with this website, a representative from a casting agency stated,
“Actually, we’ve been getting more and more inquiries about Hanano from film directors and producers. The reason is that, while she wasn’t well-known in the industry until now, this recent scandal has made her face and name instantly recognizable. As a result, it seems there are quite a few industry insiders who want to ‘give her a try,’”
he said. That said, actors involved in scandals usually face significant risks with sponsors and the like…
“For movies or web dramas, the bar isn’t as high as it is for broadcast TV. Plus, there’s a boom in dramas about extramarital affairs right now. Hanano, who’s in her 30s, is a perfect fit for those roles,” said the same casting agency representative.
Hana truly embodies the saying, “Better to be infamous than unknown.” However, considering the feelings of the spouse left behind, it’s perhaps only natural that criticism is mounting against the carefree behavior of the parties involved—Miyama and Hana.
[YouTube] On FRIDAY Digital’s “Entertainment Reporter Channel,” active entertainment reporters thoroughly delve into the behind-the-scenes details of this “mud-slinging” affair scandal—information only reporters have access to—in an episode titled “Ryoki Miyama & Maria Hana: The Truth Behind Their Shocking ‘Unremorseful Emails.’”They reveal the “divorce warning signs” that only reporters could spot. They also explain the “unnecessary sentence” included in the statements released by both parties’ agencies.