Actress Haruna Kawaguchi (川口春奈) announced on August 2 that she has married professional soccer player Ko Itakura (板倉滉), sharing the news through a joint statement posted to her Instagram account. In the same post, the couple revealed that Kawaguchi is currently expecting their first child.
“We are pleased to report that we, Ko Itakura and Haruna Kawaguchi, have gotten married,” the statement read. “There is also our baby growing inside me, and we hope it arrives safely as we spend our days together peacefully. We want to build a home filled with mutual support and laughter.”
The announcement comes as Kawaguchi is preparing for the release of her latest starring film, “Even If Mom Is No Longer in This World: My Life Diary,” directed by Yuki Yamato, which opens in Japanese theaters on October 2. She is also set to join the Japanese-dub voice cast of Disney and Pixar’s “Elemental,” releasing domestically on August 4.
Who is Haruna Kawaguchi?
Born February 10, 1995, in Nagasaki Prefecture, Kawaguchi first rose to prominence after winning the grand prix in the 2007 model audition held by Japanese teen magazine Nicola, which led to her debut as an exclusive model. She made her television drama debut in 2009 with “Tokyo DOGS” and landed her first leading film role in 2012 with “Ouran High School Host Club.”
Since then, Kawaguchi has built a prolific filmography, including double-lead roles opposite Sota Fukushi in “Say I Love You,” Kento Yamazaki in “One Week Friends,” and Issei Takahashi in “Until I Meet September’s Love.” On television, she has starred in dramas such as “Even If You Say You Loved Me, There Are Secrets,” “Himo Men,” and “Innocence: The Falsely Accused Lawyer,” and played the role of Nohime in NHK’s 2020 taiga drama “Kirin ga Kuru.” Her role in the 2022 drama “Silent,” opposite Ren Meguro, became a major talking point among Japanese viewers, and in 2023 she reunited with actor Michiya Nakamura for “Hayabusa Fire Squad,” 13 years after their last collaboration together. Kawaguchi also runs her own YouTube channel, “Ha-channeru.”
Her new husband, Itakura, is a professional defender who has represented the Japan national team and is known for his club career in Germany.
Author’s Comment
Well, color me delighted and mildly exhausted — Kawaguchi just handed us a wedding AND a pregnancy in a single Instagram post, no slow-drip scandal photos required. I have to respect the efficiency; half the celebrities in this country make you wait through three separate press conferences to get this much information. Pairing an actress with a national team footballer is exactly the kind of cross-industry power couple Japanese tabloids will be feasting on for months, so buckle up. My honest advice to Kawaguchi: enjoy this quiet moment, because the due-date speculation is about to become a full-time national hobby.
