 |
| Sashihara Rino’s 14-Year-Long Fan, Inukai Atsuhiro, Turns into Her Boyfriend |
Sashihara Rino (32) has taken her fans by surprise with a new, serious relationship with none other than Inukai Atsuhiro, a writer and actor who's been one of her biggest supporters for the last 14 years.
On May 10, around noon, a taxi zoomed out of a high-end Tokyo apartment complex, with a young couple inside, both wearing caps to keep their identities on the down-low.
After a short drive, the taxi made a stop at a bustling main street, where out stepped Sashihara Rino, her signature cap low over her face.
She was clutching her beloved pet cat in a carrier, making a quick pit stop at the vet. What caught the eye of many, though, was the young man sitting in the taxi, gazing at her with unmistakable affection.
 |
This wasn’t just any fan, though. Inukai Atsuhiro has been a dedicated “genuine fan” of Rino for a whopping 14 years, ever since she first hit the scene as a member of AKB48 back in 2007.
Over the years, he has quietly supported her career as she blossomed from an idol into a variety show queen, even taking the top spot in the infamous “AKB48 Senbatsu Election” four times.
Her centre position in the megahit "Koi Suru Fortune Cookie" made her a household name, and she went on to dominate the TV world with her sharp wit and humour. After leaving AKB48 in 2019, Rino took on a new role as a producer, turning groups like =LOVE and ≠ME into success stories.
Despite their differences in age and profession, their bond has clearly been more than just professional admiration.
Sources suggest that Sasshi and Inukai Atsuhiro have been quietly seeing each other for a while, with their bond growing stronger over the years, transitioning from a fan-artist relationship to something much deeper and more personal.
Inukai is a huge fan of Sasshi, worshipping her as "a god-like figure – like how football fans rate Ronaldo or Messi." He even showed photos of her T-shirts and towels as fan merch.
He also attended handshake events and once recalled an episode where he asked to be her apprentice.
Inukai is a huge fan of Sashi, worshipping her as "a god-like figure, like Messi in soccer", and showed pictures of her T-shirts and towels as support goods.
— DMZ_v2 (@DMZ1080P) May 14, 2025
He also participated in handshake events and recalled an episode when he asked to be his an apprentice pic.twitter.com/oHRxQIoWbD
It seems that, after 14 years of dedication, Atsuhiro's dream of being with his long-time idol has finally come true. Fans are already buzzing with excitement at the revelation, with many wishing the happy couple nothing but the best.
 |
Interviewer:
– Inukai-san, you've been talked about for being a fan of Sashihara Rino. Was it the kind of "genuine love" or "hardcore crush"?
Inukai:
"Of course, it was a hardcore crush! I don’t really understand any other way of supporting someone. It wasn’t painful or anything back then. Maybe it was fun because it was one-sided. If there had been any kind of back-and-forth, I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much. It was fun because I could just support her without thinking about anything unnecessary. That kind of relationship was easy."
Interviewer:
– Such pure love. By the way, now that you're an adult, do you think there's a chance you'd fall into a "hardcore crush" again?
Inukai:
"I don’t think I could do that anymore. The kind of 'hardcore crush' back then was because I was ignorant, in a way. Now that I’ve gained experience and knowledge, I don’t think I could fall into a passionate love like that again. It’s a bit sad, actually."
 |
So, looks like Sashihara Rino is no longer just the idol we grew to love; she’s also a woman in love, too!