Exclusive Romance Scoop! Photos of Kana Kurashina and “Sandaime JSB” Member ØMI on a Lovey-Dovey “Shopping Date”

A New Partner for the Romance-Prone Actress

Billed as “a new gateway connecting Japan and the world,” a new landmark opened with great fanfare in Tokyo’s Minato Ward. Nestled within it is a supermarket that carries a carefully curated selection of high-quality products from around the globe and enjoys enthusiastic support from celebrities.

On a certain weekday—with lunchtime fast approaching—the store was bustling with activity. Amid the crowd was a couple. The man headed toward the checkout counter carrying a shopping basket piled high with groceries, while the woman followed close behind.They were actress Kana Kurashina (38) and ØMI (Hiroomi Tosaka, 39) of “Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS from EXILE TRIBE.”

Kurashina made her entertainment debut in 2005 after winning the Grand Prix at the “SMA Teens Audition 2005.”

“Actually, Kurashina was initially rejected from this audition. However, her photo happened to catch the eye of the president of SMA (Sony Music Artists), and she went on to win the Grand Prix through a second-chance opportunity.”In 2009, she was cast as the heroine in the NHK morning drama *Well Come* and stepped into the spotlight; since then, she has appeared in numerous hit dramas such as *Mother* (Nippon TV) and *Stealing Love, Winter* (TV Asahi).“She has firmly established her status as a talented actress,” said a sports newspaper entertainment reporter.

Kurashina has also attracted public attention as an actress with a colorful love life.

“In 2010, sports newspapers reported that she was dating Yu Hamaguchi (54) of the comedy duo ‘Yōiko,’ and the following year, *Josei Seven* photographed Kurashina heading to the luxury apartment where Hamaguchi lived after finishing work and staying there until the next morning.
Later, in 2014, *FRIDAY* broke the news of her relationship with actor Yutaka Takenouchi (55). It was reported that they had grown closer after co-starring in the 2012 drama *I’ll Propose to You Again* (TBS).“At one point, there were whispers that they were on the verge of marriage, but it was revealed in 2018 that they had broken up,” (ibid.)

It was ØMI whom Kurashina chose as her new partner.

Food that one person can’t finish on their own

“In 2010, ØMI passed the audition for ‘Sandaime JSB.’ That same year, she made her debut as the group’s vocalist.His 2014 release, “R.Y.U.S.E.I.,” won the Grand Prize at the 56th Japan Record Awards, and in 2016, the music video surpassed 100 million views on YouTube.He also made his acting debut in the 2014 film *Hot Road*. For his solo activities, he has been using the stage name “ØMI” since 2021, and has now unified his group activities under the name “ØMI” as well. From July to September of this year, he held a fan club-exclusive event tour.” (Record label representative)

In March of this year, he was appointed CEO of “CDL Entertainment,” which supports ØMI’s solo activities and manages the fan community. He is also focusing his efforts on producing apparel.

The scene described at the beginning is a snapshot of a shopping date between these two popular figures. Although Kurashina was wearing a mask and ØMI was hiding her face with a knit cap and mask, they did not seem concerned about the stares of other shoppers.

“Even while ØMI was paying at the register, the two were chatting amicably. They looked just like a long-married couple. They bought so much food that one person could never eat it all, so I wondered if they might be living together,” said a shopper who witnessed the pair.

Kurashina and ØMI were both born in 1987. According to a source familiar with their relationship, “When they met through a mutual acquaintance, they hit it off immediately, partly because they were the same age.”

“They both have stoic personalities. It seems they grew closer as they discussed their approaches to work and their worries. I’ve heard they also agreed on the condition that they would ‘respect each other’s careers and individuality without interfering excessively.’”

Is the relationship true? In response to an inquiry from FRIDAY, the agencies representing the two provided the following statements.

“We leave matters regarding their private lives up to them” (Kurashina’s agency)

“We leave personal matters up to the individuals themselves.” (ØMI’s agency)

For the two of them, who continue to navigate the cutthroat entertainment industry with such stoicism, a private shopping date must have been the ultimate form of relaxation.

From the September 25, 2026 issue of *FRIDAY*