【Romance Scoop!】Kana Kurashina and J SOUL BROTHERS’ ØMI Spotted on a Lovey-Dovey Shopping Date

A new partner for the actress with a long dating history

Billed as a new gateway connecting Japan and the world, a new landmark recently opened in spectacular fashion in Minato Ward, Tokyo. One corner of the landmark is home to a supermarket that stocks a carefully selected range of high-quality products from around the world and is hugely popular among celebrities.

It was a weekday, and with lunchtime approaching, the store was bustling. Among the shoppers was a couple. The man carried a shopping basket piled high with groceries as he headed toward the checkout, while the woman followed behind him. They were actress Kana Kurashina (38) and ØMI (Hiroomi Tosaka, 39) of “Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS from EXILE TRIBE.”

Kurashina made her debut in show business in 2005 after winning the grand prix at the “SMA Teens Audition 2005.”

“In fact, Kurashina was initially eliminated from this audition. However, a photo of her happened to catch the eye of the president of SMA (Sony Music Artists), and she won the grand prix through the wildcard round for eliminated contestants. After being cast as the heroine of the 2009 NHK serial television drama ‘Well Kame,’ she rose to prominence and went on to appear in numerous hit productions, including the dramas ‘Mother’ (Nippon TV) and ‘Uchiage Hanabi,’ ‘Shita Kara Miru ka? Yoko Kara Miru ka?’ [Daiisuki?] (TV Asahi). She firmly established herself as a talented actress.” (Entertainment reporter for a sports newspaper)

Kurashina has also attracted considerable public attention for her long history of high-profile relationships.

“In 2010, her relationship with Yu Hamaguchi (54) of the comedy duo Yoiko was reported by a sports newspaper. The following year, ‘Josei Seven’ photographed Kurashina heading to the luxury apartment building where Hamaguchi lived after finishing work and staying there until the following morning.
She then became the subject of a ‘FRIDAY’ scoop in 2014 over her relationship with actor Yutaka Takenouchi (55). The two were said to have grown closer after co-starring in the 2012 TBS drama ‘Mou Ichido Kimi ni, Propose.’ At one point, there was even speculation that they were close to getting married, but it became clear in 2018 that they had broken up.” (Same source)

Kurashina has now chosen ØMI as her new partner.

Buying ingredients they couldn’t possibly finish alone

“ØMI passed the audition for ‘Sandaime JSB’ in 2010 and made his debut that same year as one of the group’s vocalists. ‘R.Y.U.S.E.I.,’ released in 2014, won the Grand Prize at the 56th Japan Record Awards, and in 2016, its 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 began using the name ØMI in 2021, and he now uses ØMI as his name for both his solo and group activities. From July through September this year, he held an event tour exclusively for fan club members.” (Record company representative)

In March this year, ØMI became CEO of “CDL entertainment,” which handles support for his solo activities and the operation of his fan community. He is also putting considerable effort into producing apparel.

The scene described at the beginning was a glimpse of a shopping date between these two popular stars. Kurashina was wearing a mask, while ØMI concealed his face with a knit cap and mask, but neither appeared particularly concerned about the eyes of other shoppers.

“Even while ØMI was paying at the register, the two of them chatted affectionately. They looked like a married couple who had been together for many years. They were buying so much food that there was no way one person could eat it all, so I wondered if they might be living together.” (Shopper who saw the two)

Kurashina and ØMI were both born in 1987. According to someone familiar with their relationship, “They met through a mutual acquaintance, and since they were the same age, they hit it off right away.”

“They’re both very disciplined people. It seems that they gradually grew closer as they talked about how they approached their work and their worries. I’ve heard that they also agreed on wanting to respect each other’s careers and individuality without interfering excessively.”

Is their relationship actually romantic? “FRIDAY” asked their respective agencies, which responded as follows.

“We leave matters concerning her private life to her.” (Kurashina’s agency)

“We leave private matters up to him.” (ØMI’s agency)

For these two who continue to pursue their careers with such discipline in the cutthroat entertainment industry, a private shopping date together must have been a welcome source of relaxation.

From the September 25, 2026 issue of “FRIDAY”