A recent online discussion among Korean netizens has brought renewed attention to one of Japan’s most infamous celebrity dating controversies involving Kazunari Ninomiya, a member of the legendary idol group ARASHI.
In 2019, Ninomiya shocked fans by announcing his marriage to former announcer Ayako Ito. While celebrity marriages are nothing unusual, the relationship remains controversial among many fans due to Ayako’s behavior before the wedding, which critics described as years of “dropping hints” about their romance on her personal blog.
According to longtime followers of the controversy, Ayako allegedly posted numerous clues seemingly linking her to Ninomiya throughout their relationship.
Some of the examples frequently cited by fans include:
- Wearing matching clothing items that Ninomiya had previously been seen wearing, including limited-edition sweaters, jackets, and television outfits.
- Uploading photos that subtly featured items believed to belong to Ninomiya.
- Posting pictures containing ARASHI concert merchandise or goods related to Ninomiya.
- Sharing photos of the exact video games and flowers that Ninomiya had publicly mentioned as favorites shortly after he talked about them.
- Posting vacation photos from Hawaii around the same time ARASHI held concerts there.
- Displaying ARASHI-related souvenirs, calendars, and memorabilia in blog photos.
- Uploading poems that fans claimed contained hidden references to Ninomiya’s name and ARASHI symbolism.
Many fans interpreted these posts as a deliberate attempt to signal her relationship with the idol while avoiding direct confirmation. Some critics argued that the repeated hints felt like a message of, “I’m dating the man you all admire.”
The controversy reached its peak in 2019. At the time, ARASHI was conducting its massive 20th-anniversary Dome Tour, which was widely viewed as a farewell celebration before the group’s hiatus. During the tour, Ninomiya unexpectedly announced his marriage. Although the official statement did not identify his spouse by name, Japanese media quickly reported that the bride was Ayako Ito. For some fans, the timing of the announcement was particularly upsetting. They felt that such personal news should not have been revealed during a major commemorative tour centered on fans and the group’s history.
The story recently resurfaced on Korean online communities, where users shared a variety of opinions:
- They proved it wasn’t just a rumor by getting married.
- If you’re constantly dropping hints while still making money from fans, it feels disrespectful.
- If they hadn’t gotten married, it would’ve been embarrassing. But they did get married, so I guess she won in the end.
- This is still one of the most controversial celebrity relationship stories in Japan. Even people who aren’t fans know about it.
- We’ve seen similar situations in Korea too. Sometimes it feels like they’re trying to say, ‘The person you like is actually mine.’
- He has a wife and children now, but somehow fans still feel respected because of how he handles his public image.
Years after the wedding, the relationship remains one of the most discussed celebrity dating scandals in Japanese entertainment circles. Supporters argue that celebrities have the right to date and marry whomever they choose, while critics maintain that public figures who rely heavily on fan support should be mindful of how they present their relationships.
Regardless of where people stand, the Ninomiya-Ayako story continues to be remembered as one of the most polarizing “idol dating” controversies in modern Japanese entertainment history.
Sources: Theqoo
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