“That Wouldn’t Have Happened Back Then…” Haruna Kawaguchi, at the Height of Her Popularity, Highlights “Changes in the Entertainment Industry” Through Her Marriage to Japanese National Soccer Team Player Ko Itakura

The difference in how she handled her ex-boyfriend

“I never would have imagined this back in the day…”

Gazing into the distance, a veteran executive at a major talent agency told our site. Actress Haruna Kawaguchi (31) and Japanese national soccer team defender Ko Itakura (29) announced their marriage on August 2. It is reported that Kawaguchi is expecting a child.

The couple issued a joint statement:

“We, Ko Itakura and Haruna Kawaguchi, would like to announce that we have gotten married. We are also expecting a child. We hope to spend our days peacefully, praying for the safe arrival of our baby.”

in a written statement.

“What stood out was how different the agency’s response was compared to when she was with her ex-boyfriend, mixed martial artist Yusuke Yachi (36). Marriage rumors surfaced back then as well, but the agency stubbornly refused to acknowledge them.This time, since her partner is Mr. Itakura—a member of the World Cup team that swept Japan off its feet—I suppose the situation is different. The fact that she was pregnant is also a major factor,” said a sports newspaper reporter covering the entertainment industry.

In the “2026 First-Half Ranking of Talent Endorsement Companies” released by Nihon Monitor on July 1, Kawaguchi took the top spot with 17 companies. She has ranked first annually from 2023 to 2025, making her, so to speak, the agency’s top earner.

While her marriage to Itakura is unlikely to lower her public approval rating, as long as her husband is living abroad, her scheduling will inevitably change, and there’s a possibility she’ll relocate overseas.

This year, on New Year’s Day, top actress Masami Nagasawa (39) also made headlines with her surprise marriage to film director Takeshi Fukunaga (43). She is currently scaling back her work to focus on her newlywed life with her husband. Nagasawa is also a highly sought-after star, appearing in commercials for nine major companies. A source from a TV network’s entertainment program stated,

“If there’s a next one, it might be top actress Haruka Ayase (41). She’s reportedly dating Jesse (30) of ‘SixTONES,’ and there are rumors they’ll tie the knot before the end of the year,”

said a source.

“Just break up already.”

Kawaguchi, Nagasawa, and Ayase have all continued to be top performers and have made tremendous contributions to their agencies. An advertising agency insider said,

“When a talent has brought in this much revenue, the agency has no choice but to respect their wishes. It would be a disaster if they got upset and quit for no good reason,”

On the other hand, the entertainment agency executive mentioned at the beginning said,

“If this were 20 years ago, they might have been forced to break up,”

he said with a laugh. Needless to say, during the Showa era—and even in the late Heisei era—there were countless cases where couples on the verge of marriage were “forced to break up” at the agency’s behest.

A talent agency manager who was actually present during one such “forced breakup” revealed the following to our site:

“One of our female talents was dating a core member of a popular idol group. Reports of their relationship had even surfaced. The couple themselves were prepared to ‘get married whenever we wanted,’ but the man’s agency said, ‘We absolutely won’t allow it.’ An executive from his agency even harassed our talent directly, saying‘Break up with her quickly. You know what’ll happen, right?’ In the end, the male idol felt sorry for her and decided to end the relationship.”

In the entertainment industry, the more popular you become, the higher the hurdles to marriage. This is because not only would fans turn away, but the agency would also be forced to adjust its promotional strategy. Another production executive reveals:

“In the past, getting married at the peak of one’s popularity was unthinkable. The only exceptions were Momoe Yamaguchi (67), who married Tomokazu Miura (74) and retired,and Shizuka Kudo (56), who married Takuya Kimura (53). Sometimes, agencies would even leak scandals about the idol to the media in order to break up the relationship.”

Times have changed, and we’ve entered the Reiwa era.

A wave of compliance has swept through the entertainment industry, which had long been stuck in the past. Actors and celebrities now have a greater voice, and the “right to happiness”—regardless of gender—is now prioritized. Fans’ understanding of marriage and childbirth is also completely different from what it was 10 years ago.

“There are still people in the industry who cling to old customs, but those people will likely be weeded out,”

said the sports newspaper reporter mentioned earlier. Which high-profile couple will be the next to tie the knot?