Zero's Kobayashi Mao announces marriage (now with more)
NTV's News ZERO caster Kobayashi Mao (27) and kabuki actor Ichikawa Ebizou (31) announced their dating with the intent of marriage yesterday on the news. The two of them sent a mass fax out yesterday (the 19th) announcing their plans. Ichikawa was interviewed outside his home, and Kobayashi also reported it on News ZERO. The two plan to get married as early as next summer.
Just after 1pm, Kobayashi attended an event in the city for the eco-bag she designed and announced, "Excuse me but, Ichikawa Ebizou-san and I are in a serious relationship." And then at 8pm, a joint written comment from her and Ebizou came saying, "We are announcing our progress towards engagement in the near future."
Around 10:50pm, Ebizou at his city home responded to interviews, "When we first met I thought, 'I might be with this person forever'," "We did it because we want to get married," he explained. Until now, he's said to have been romantic with only Yonekura Kyoko (34), Miyazawa Rie (36), and Sato Eriko (27) and when asked, "Is your number up?" he answered sweetly, "She's really a wonderful person so my number being up was lucky. Her mind is beautiful, and of course her body is beautiful. I'm going to continue loving her," and continued, "That was so lame..." And then when he noticed the time, said, "I want to watch ZERO. She's probably nervous so I want to watch over her," and turned to go inside his house.
Right after that, the programme started. Again, Kobayashi explained on the live broadcast, "I was really taken with the way Ebizou-san approached kabuki, his single-minded passion and the height of his ambitions."
They met in December last year, during an interview for ZERO. On the 27th that month, Kobayashi's blog was updated with, "Today, I interviewed that kabuki actor." On January 17th this year, she appreciated his kabuki at the Shimbashi Enbujo Theatre, and continued "Ichikawa Ebizou-san's glare could see that this year, I'm going to be perfect health, for sure." At the end of June, Ebizou proposed.
Kobayashi went to watch kabuki together with her older sister, free announcer Kobayashi Maya, and deepened their relationship and in September, both parties went to pay respect to their parents. The date of the wedding is undecided but Ebizou is appearing in the "Hatsuharu Hanagata Kabuki" show next year from January 2~26 and their schedule for the spring is still being decided so the goal is summer next year at the earliest.
There is rumors about Kobayashi being pregnant but they were not confirmed on the programme. A related party said, "For the time being, they won't be taking time off" and, "they'll continue working."
◆ Kobayashi Mao: born 21 July, 1982 in Tokyo. She drew attention when she starred in the NTV drama "Koi no kara Sawagi" while studying at Sofia University and became the weather caster for Fuji TV's "Mezamashi Saturday" in October 2003. She debuted as a genuine actress in the 2005 Monday 9pm drama "Slow Dance". From October 2006 she's had the position of sub-caster for "NEWS ZERO" and has appears on Fuji's "Kiseki Taiken! Unbelievable!" and others. 1.64m tall, blood type A.
◆ Ichikawa Ebizou; real name Horikoshi Takatoshi: born 6 December, 1977 in Tokyo, the oldest son of Ichikawa Danjurou XII. He was first seen in 1983 under his real name, and appeared in his first play as Ichikawa Shinnosuke in 1985. In 2004, he assumed the name Ichikawa Ebizou XI. His hit roles include Hikaru-kun in "The Tale of Genji" and Benkei in "The Subscription List." In 2003, he starred in the NHK taiga drama "Musashi". In 2007, his performance in the Paris Opera was a success. His stage name is "Narita-ya". His younger sister is the traditional Japanese dancer Ichikawa Botan. 1.76m tall, blood type AB.
Source: Sponichi
I just saw this report on the news and had to post it. I was never really in the Sakurai Sho/Kobayashi Mao camp, but they would have made adorable, big-eyed, smart caster babies together. Wishing all the best to Mao and Ebizou!