[Full Article Published] Former “A.B.C-Z” Member Ikuto Kawai & Voice Actress Moe Toyota: “4½ Years of Serious Dating” Caught on Camera [Scoop!]

Kawai’s “Single-Minded Love”

Just before 7:00 a.m. in mid-September. A man exuding an overwhelming charisma emerged from an apartment building located in a downtown area where the natural beauty of lush greenery blends with the scenery of the old downtown.

His casual outfit—a jersey from a famous sports brand, khaki pants, stylish sunglasses with tinted lenses, and a knit cap that gave a head start to fall fashion—was pulled off with his signature flair.This man, whose gait is somewhat reminiscent of Takuya Kimura (53), is Fumito Kawai (38), a former member of the idol group “A.B.C-Z.”

It appears he was just leaving his home that day to head to the live broadcast of “Saturday Funkies” (Iwate Menkoi TV), a local program in Iwate Prefecture where he serves as the MC. As a light drizzle began to fall, the rear door of the waiting shuttle opened, and Kawai quickly got in and headed off to work.

“Kawai joined the former Johnny’s agency at age 11 and made his major-label debut as a member of ‘A.B.C-Z’ in 2012. While showcasing his success as a top idol, he also blossomed as a variety show personality through his impersonations brimming with love for Johnny’s, his physical comedy on variety shows, and his exceptional MC skills.

In particular, he held such deep admiration for Takuya Kimura—a senior at the same agency—that he referred to him as ‘God,’ and his impersonations of Kimura’s speech and gait have become one of his most popular routines.“In ’23, he set two goals—‘to have his own show by the age of 40’ and ‘to establish himself as an MC’—and announced his departure from the group. At the same time, he began focusing his efforts on solo activities,” said a producer at a major network.

That decision paid off, and he currently appears in nine regular programs, including TV, radio, and streaming platforms. Centered around his work as an MC, his activities have expanded nationwide to include Iwate, Saitama, Shizuoka, and Aichi prefectures. Furthermore, this year he appeared in the stage play *It’s Not About Whether I Want to or Not 2026*, his first stage performance in five years.

FRIDAY has learned that Kawai, despite his hectic schedule, has been quietly pursuing a “devoted romance” behind the scenes. Who is the one who has captured his heart?

How they met…

It was just past 9:00 a.m., about two hours after the shuttle carrying Kawai had driven away. A woman emerged from the escalator leading to the same apartment building. Though her outfit was simple—a gray hoodie, sweatpants, and glasses—her radiant complexion and well-defined figure exuded an aura of beauty.The woman, looking a bit sleepy, is Moe Toyota (31), a voice actress.

“Toyoda is a popular voice actress who has appeared in various series, including the anime *Sound! Euphonium*, *BanG Dream!*, and *Flying Babies*.Having been an ‘otaku girl’ who loved manga, anime, and video games from the start, she began pursuing a career as a voice actress during her senior year of high school. Since then, while focusing on voice acting, she has also taken on challenges in radio, theater, and gravure modeling. This year, too, she’s raising her profile in various fields by appearing in staged readings, stage greetings for movie premieres, and horse racing events,” said a source in the anime industry.

On this day, Toyoda appeared at a stage greeting for the second part of the theatrical film *Final Movement: Sound! Euphonium*, the concluding chapter of the *Sound! Euphonium* series in which she plays a leading role.The film is an anime that depicts the passionate youth of high school students dedicated to their wind ensemble—one of her signature works. On stage, in stark contrast to the casual clothes she’d been wearing earlier, she was dressed in a pale pink satin dress and beamed with a radiant smile.

Kawai, who has successfully transitioned from being one of Japan’s top idols to a multi-talented entertainer, and Toyoda, a rising star in the voice acting world. At first glance, the two seem to have nothing in common…

“Kawai and Toyota reportedly met at a bar in Tokyo around early 2021.Toyoda, who had always been a fan of idols, asked a mutual acquaintance to introduce him to Kawai, and when they actually met, they hit it off. However, their relationship didn’t immediately turn romantic; apparently, they were both seeing other people at the time, so they remained friends for about a year.“However, when Toyoda grew tired of the ambiguous relationship and asked for clarity, he reportedly said, ‘Well, let’s date then,’ and they began officially dating around March 2022,” said a female acquaintance.

The female acquaintance continued:

“I hear the two of them started living together earlier this year with marriage in mind.I hear Toyota wants to get married before Kawai turns 40. Before they moved in together, they apparently went on regular road trips and vacations, but now she supports the busy Kawai by cooking for him at home. They occasionally go to the neighborhood supermarket or convenience store together, but they seem to be keeping their relationship low-key, mostly staying at home to avoid public attention,”

In addition to the day mentioned at the beginning, FRIDAY has frequently spotted the two entering and exiting the same apartment building—including Kawai (third photo) carrying a large load such as a carry-on bag and T-shirts hanging on a hanger, and Toyota (fourth photo) carrying a plastic shopping bag while intently typing a message on her cell phone.They gave the impression of having a calm, composed atmosphere—as if they were a long-married couple.

“Actually, it’s said that both Kawai and Toyoda had already revealed the existence of their partners to those around them. Toyoda, in particular, is at the absolute peak of happiness—dating the idol she’s always admired and even living with him. She probably wants to shout it from the rooftops,” said a source at a major talent agency.

An Exclusive Interview on “Marriage”

They’ve been dating for four and a half years. Kawai’s private life has always been shrouded in mystery, and she has lived a scandal-free life since her debut. She made the decision to leave her group in pursuit of her major goal—“to host my own TV show by the time I’m 40”—but what about her “resolve” when it comes to romance?

As Toyota was heading out to the aforementioned stage greeting, I tried to catch her off guard by saying, “It’s *Friday*!” She let out a small “Ah,” but stopped in her tracks with a gentle smile.

—I hear you’re currently dating Ms. Kawai.

“I have to go (to the stage greeting) now… I’m sorry.”

—You’re living together, aren’t you?

“……”

—Any plans to get married?

“Not yet… I really don’t know.”

—Not at all? I think you two are a perfect match.

“(She says nothing, but smiles happily.)”

――Is it true that you’ve been dating for four and a half years and are currently living together?

“……”

—Can’t you answer that?

“I can’t answer that. I’m sorry.”

――Are you happy right now, Ms. Toyoda?

“(She flashes a gentle smile.)”

Toyoda spoke cautiously, though clearly hesitant, when it came to the topic of marriage. After expressing her gratitude with a final “Thank you very much,” she smiled sweetly once more and headed off to her workplace.

We sent a written inquiry regarding the couple’s relationship and cohabitation to “START O ENTERTAINMENT Co., Ltd.,” the agency to which Kawai belongs, but received no response by the deadline.

Meanwhile, when a similar list of questions was sent to “Hibiki,” the voice acting agency to which Toyota belongs, the following response was received:

“We refrain from commenting on the private matters of our talent.”

How will the romance of these two, who have been quietly nurturing their love, ultimately play out?

From the October 2 & 9, 2026, combined issue of “FRIDAY”