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| SixTONES Faces Wedding Rumours as Jesse and Haruka Ayase Relationship Turns Serious. (Credits: Josei Seven) |
Japan’s entertainment industry is suddenly drowning in wedding speculation after fresh reports claimed not one, but potentially two members of SixTONES could be heading towards marriage. The biggest attention naturally lands on Jesse and actress Haruka Ayase, whose relationship has reportedly become serious enough that marriage discussions are no longer treated like quiet backstage gossip.
But in true plot-twist fashion, insiders are now saying Shintaro Morimoto might actually reach the finish line first with actress Aoi Morikawa. Somewhere inside the fandom, collective screaming has probably already begun. The latest reports suggest that conversations about marriage are now openly shared among the members themselves, making the situation feel far more real than another weekly celebrity rumour cycle.
For fans who hoped the relationship headlines from 2024 would quietly disappear into entertainment history, Japan’s tabloids clearly had other plans. Back in 2024, reports first revealed that Haruka Ayase and Jesse were in a serious relationship after meeting during filming for the 2023 movie Revolver Lily.
According to entertainment insiders, the pair carefully built their relationship over time, initially spending time together through private dinner gatherings away from public attention.
It was reportedly less flashy celebrity romance and more “quietly seeing each other while pretending nobody noticed”. Unfortunately for them, Japanese entertainment reporters usually notice everything.
At the time, Jesse’s response to the dating reports caused massive discussion online. The SixTONES member casually commented that he and Ayase were “getting along well”, before adding the group’s famous catchphrase “Zudon”.
Fans were split immediately. Some found the response relaxed and funny, while others thought mixing idol branding with relationship rumours was not exactly the masterclass in timing they were hoping for.
Now, two years later, the atmosphere surrounding the couple reportedly feels very different. Jesse turns 30 this year, while Haruka Ayase, now 41, continues to remain one of Japan’s most respected actresses.
According to entertainment sources quoted in recent reports, Ayase has already been introduced to other SixTONES members and is accepted within the group’s inner circle. One insider even described the relationship as an “open secret” among people connected to the industry.
The reports also claim Ayase occasionally joins gatherings involving SixTONES members, which only added fuel to speculation that the relationship has moved well beyond casual dating. In Japanese idol culture, where relationships used to be treated like classified government documents, that detail alone was enough to send social media into detective mode.
The more surprising development might actually involve Shintaro Morimoto and actress Aoi Morikawa. Their relationship first drew attention after reports surfaced about the pair travelling together in Thailand in 2024.
The two reportedly became close after starring together in the drama Machi Namite Terasu Yatsura. At the time, many assumed the relationship quietly ended after the headlines faded away. Apparently not.
According to fresh entertainment industry claims, Morimoto and Morikawa are still together and may even be the SixTONES couple closest to marriage right now.
Sources claim Morimoto has stopped making major efforts to hide the relationship, with some insiders describing the pair as having a very natural and relaxed atmosphere around them. In other words, not exactly the energy of two people trying to avoid rumours.
Fans also remembered how Morimoto enthusiastically talked about Thailand’s tuk-tuks shortly after the travel reports surfaced. At the time, some listeners immediately interpreted it as a subtle nod to the trip with Morikawa.
Others argued fans were overanalysing a man simply discussing transport. Japanese fandom culture, meanwhile, continued doing what it does best: turning every casual sentence into a potential relationship clue worthy of an investigation board.
The timing of these reports has made the situation even more interesting. SixTONES are currently in one of the biggest periods of their career.
The group, which debuted alongside Snow Man in 2020, has become one of Japan’s top idol acts, balancing music success with rapidly expanding individual careers.
Hokuto Matsumura recently picked up major recognition at the Japan Academy Awards, while Taiga Kyomoto continues strengthening his acting career through television dramas. Member Yugo Kochi has also gained praise for his television appearances and commentary work.
On top of that, SixTONES are preparing for their first stadium tour later this year while celebrating their sixth anniversary. Because of that, some fans believe any possible marriage announcement would likely happen after the tour activities finish.
Entertainment insiders also pointed out that management considerations around Ayase could be more complicated simply because of her enormous status in the industry.
What has really changed, though, is the wider atmosphere around idols and relationships in Japan. Years ago, even dating rumours could create full-scale controversy around younger idols.
Now, many fans appear more willing to separate performers’ professional careers from their personal lives. Not everyone agrees, of course. Some fans online are fully supportive and calling the relationships mature and refreshing, while others admitted the rumours left them emotionally confused after years of supporting the group.
Across Japanese social media, reactions have ranged from “they deserve happiness” to dramatic declarations of “my heart can’t take this”.
Some netizens joked that SixTONES concerts may soon start feeling like wedding receptions at this rate, while others praised the members for reaching stages in life where long-term relationships feel natural rather than hidden behind endless secrecy.
Of course, none of the reported marriage claims have been officially confirmed by the agency or the artists themselves. For now, everything remains within entertainment report territory. But the fact these rumours continue growing louder — instead of quietly disappearing — has convinced many fans that something significant may eventually happen.
If two active members of one of Japan’s biggest idol groups really do announce marriages around the same period, it would become one of the most talked-about entertainment stories the industry has seen in years.
And honestly, considering how chaotic fandom reactions already look now, the internet may not survive the actual announcement day. So what do you think — are wedding bells genuinely getting closer for SixTONES, or is this another case of the rumour mill sprinting faster than reality?