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| Secret Romance? King & Prince’s Nagase Ren Spotted on Stealthy Date with Hamabe Minami |
Looks like something’s cooking off-screen too—and not just at the teppanyaki grill. Rumours are heating up around King & Prince's cool prince Nagase Ren (26) and top actress Hamabe Minami (24) after the pair were spotted on what looked a lot like a secret late-night date, followed by a cheeky overnight stay at Ren's place.
According to a scoop from Josei Seven, the two were seen in early July dining at a posh hidden-away teppanyaki spot in Tokyo—one that’s known for its private rooms and celeb-friendly atmosphere. Dressed head-to-toe in black, the pair arrived and left separately, but not sneakily enough to avoid eagle-eyed sources.
Ren stepped out first, glancing back more than once as if waiting for someone. Sure enough, Hamabe followed close behind—also decked in full black—and the two then hopped into the same taxi that reportedly drove straight to Ren's high-rise apartment. The kicker? They weren’t seen leaving that night. 👀
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What makes this all extra juicy is that the pair are currently working together as main personalities for 24-Hour TV 48, airing 30–31 August. While they didn’t interact at all during the official press conference on 1 July, insiders suggest the quiet vibes may be hiding something deeper. One of Ren’s close acquaintances even spilled a bit of tea:
“Ren’s known to be a bit of a neat freak—he can’t stand being handed coins directly or having people sit in outside clothes on the sofa. So if he’s letting someone stay over at his place, he’s clearly proper into her.”
And they both are having pretty hectic years. Nagase Ren just wrapped King & Prince’s first dome tour as a duo with a massive Tokyo Dome concert on 12 July.
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Meanwhile, Hamabe Minami’s got her plate full prepping for her role in NHK’s upcoming 2026 taiga drama Toyotomi Brothers!—and word is, she’s also confiding in a certain married A-list actress about romance stuff.
As expected, neither party’s agency gave much away. Nagase Ren’s side didn’t respond by deadline, while Hamabe Minami’s reps politely said, “We have nothing to comment on. Thank you for your understanding.” Classic.
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Whether it’s early love or just a private hangout between co-stars, fans are buzzing. One thing’s for sure: they looked mad stylish in their matching noir fits—because if you’re going incognito, might as well serve looks doing it.
Full scoop—including Nagase Ren’s love quirks and Hamabe Minami’s secret romance advisor—is out in the 17 July issue of Josei Seven.