Grover C. Magnus 
Actors Gen Hoshino and Yui Aragaki played unusual but attractive lovers in a popular Japanese TV show. Now they are really going to get married.
The pair announced their decision in a joint statement posted on Aragaki’s Instagram account Wednesday. It is an example of “life imitate art ”, meaning that life sometimes seems like a copy of a work of art. It’s funny because we usually think of art as a copy of something in real life.
“We would like to announce that we, General Hoshino and Yui Aragaki, are getting married,” the statement said. “We hope you will continue to warmly support both of us.”
Aragaki and Hoshino starred together in the 2016 comedy show, “Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu”, or “C’est Shameful to run, but it works. “
Hoshino played a businessman who hires a young woman, played by Aragaki, as a housekeeper. They start with a business relationship. They slowly develop feelings of love for each other. They decide on a deal that looks a bit like marriage, but only for three years. The story was about a problem in Japanese society: young people wait until later in life to get married and have children. The result is one of the lowest birth rates in the world.
Hoshino wrote and sang the memorable theme song, “Koi” or “Love”. He was also very popular, including his dance steps. “Heart pulsations throb from a distance, “the song says.” Step outside the boundaries of man and woman. “
Caroline Kennedy, then U.S. Ambassador to Japan, shared a YouTube video of embassy staff and herself dancing.
The show is based on a “manga” or an illustrated story. It also showed the long-standing inequalities between men and women in Japan. The female character in history has a college degree, but loses his job. Having no better opportunities, she decides to work as a cleaning lady. As the two become friends, they respect each other, without strong feelings. Slowly, they find out that they have fallen in love.
Hoshino is a 40-year-old award-winning musician. He has played a leading role in many films, including “The Voice of Sin” in 2020. Aragaki, 32, started out as FAshit model. She appears in Uniqlo and Toyota commercials.
The couple have not yet specified their wedding date.
The reaction from their social media followers in Japan was, “Oh, wow.”
In his Instagram post, Hoshino said, “We hope to work together to build a calm and happy life.”
I am Jill Robbins.
Yuri Kageyama wrote this story for The Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learn English. Susan Shand was the editor.
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Words in this story
pair – nm two people married or having a romantic or sexual relationship
imitate – v. copy (the behavior, sound or appearance of someone or something)
shameful – adj. very bad
throb – v. beat with a strong and regular rhythm
character – nm a person who appears in a story, book, play, movie or TV show
fashion – m. the business of creating and selling clothes in new styles
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