Ebizo Ichikawa, left, and Mao Kobayashi

Ebizo Ichikawa, Mao Kobayashi heading down the aisle

Saturday 21st November, 04:00 AM JST

TOKYO —

Kabuki actor Ebizo Ichikawa, 31, and newscaster Mao Kobayashi, 27, revealed in a fax signed by both this week that they were heading down the road toward marriage, with plans to tie the knot sometime soon.

On Thursday night, Ebizo told a swarm of media in front of his home that when the pair first met in December of last year, he had an inkling that she was the one. He proposed in June, confessing to her, “I’ll always love you.”

Ebizo has had his name linked to a number of famous actresses, among them Ryoko Yonekura, 34, Eriko Sato, 27, and Saki Takaoka, 36. When he was asked if it was “finally time to pay the piper,” he brushed the question off with a bit of joke: “She’s such a wonderful catch, I couldn’t let this one get away, could I?”

Kobayashi also revealed her feelings during Thursday night’s TBS program “News Zero,” saying, “I was really captivated by his passion and dedication to kabuki.”

The pair met on Dec 27, 2008, on the set of “News Zero” when Ebizo appeared as a guest. The theme of the show was, coincidentally, “People who have changed my life.”

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14 Comments

easychord2 at 07:25 AM JST - 21st November

She must be pregnant.
butterfly1 at 07:46 AM JST - 21st November

easychord... she isnt. i felt sorry for them when they announced it on Zero the other night because part of the announcement was that ' she isnt pregnant ' and 'she plans to continue working' ...
knackerz at 08:39 AM JST - 21st November

Best of luck to them
LoveUSA at 11:12 AM JST - 21st November

what a handsome man he is! wow!
Blue_Tiger at 11:29 AM JST - 21st November

Best wishes to them both. Ichikawa did a great job in the "Musashi" series. They look like a good couple...
ninjaboy at 01:52 PM JST - 21st November

Can't wait for the "we're heading down the road to divorce" fax ...
norinrad21 at 05:14 PM JST - 21st November

shotgun
InTheKnow at 05:36 PM JST - 21st November

I thought the popular American comedy 'Knocked Up' would be shown in Japan as a film, not live-acted in kabuki by these two. A few years from now he'll be singing her praises along the lines of "You plus me plus baby minus me equals two!"

sutoobu ni pan ga iru!
Potsu at 08:44 PM JST - 21st November

LoveUsa:"what a handsome man he is! wow!

hahaha,good one.
Wolfpack at 01:19 AM JST - 22nd November

They made the announcement by "fax"! Must have been circulating around on the phone lines since the 80's. Anyway, congratulations to the happy couple.
POTUS at 01:14 AM JST - 23rd November

Preggers.
kirakira25 at 09:28 AM JST - 23rd November

Hes a hottie. Shes a hottie. They seem to be really genuinely into each other. Maybe I am just looking for a little light in a jaded J entertainment world right now, but I have high hopes for these two - good luck to them I say.

Wish they would stop announcing the whole "shes not pregnant and will continue working" thing though - its annoying to see these stereotpes pertuated through the media. Hardly helps haul women in this country into the modern way of thinking.
marushka at 06:06 PM JST - 23rd November

and i think he is very handsome and she is very cute, so they make a very nice couple
dracpoo2 at 10:37 AM JST - 25th November

Normally, I am a happy, giggly person when people announce their undying love for each other, but in Japan, I realize I am now rather fretful, hoping and wondering if a couple will be happy and not trapped in an unhappy, sexless, run of the mill marriage. I am seeing too many of those nowadays. Anyway I wish them good luck they are indeed beautiful.