[2026 Romance Roundup] Naniwa Danshi’s Kento Nagao and Former “E-girls” Member Rio Inagaki’s Late-Night Overnight Date

〈As a special midsummer feature, we’re revealing all the “caught in the act” moments involving major celebrities that FRIDAY has reported on during the first half of ’26!　 “Let’s look back at the reports on the romance between Kento Nagao and Rio Inagaki, as covered in the June 26–July 3, 2026, combined issue of *FRIDAY*.”

Second Romance Report for Popular Idol! [June 26 & July 3 Issue]

The scoop about Kento Nagao (23), the youngest member of the idol group “Naniwa Danshi”—which is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year—spending the night with someone came as a huge surprise to the public.

In June, FRIDAY spotted Kento Nagao and Rio Inagaki (27), a former member of “E-girls,” on a date at a Chinese-style izakaya. The pair enjoyed a meal for about an hour, tucking into the restaurant’s signature gyoza, before stopping by a nearby convenience store—though Nagao left the store immediately.

It appears he had gone back to the Chinese izakaya they had just left to retrieve the smartphone that Inagaki had forgotten there. Afterward, they spent about two hours at a nearby bar. Just past 2:00 a.m., the two boarded the same hired car within moments of each other and disappeared into Inagaki’s apartment building.

“After the reports surfaced, Nagao posted an apology on his blog. Since this was his second reported romantic relationship—following the one with Yua Mikami (32) in ’23—there were some fans who supported his continuing his activities, but my impression was that the calls for him to leave the group were louder.

“Furthermore, Shunsuke Michieda (24), who enjoys overwhelming popularity within the group, reportedly exploded with frustration over Nagao’s lack of dedication as an idol. I heard there was an awkward atmosphere among the members for a while. Given how much trouble she caused those around her, I think it’s safe to say they’ve broken up by now,” said a sports newspaper reporter.

Next, I hope he’ll capture fans’ attention with his charm as an idol.

From the August 21 & 28, 2026, combined issue of *FRIDAY*