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Yu Darvish divorces TV celebrity wife Saeko

48 Comments

Star pitcher Yu Darvish, who this week signed a six-year, $60 million contract with the Texas Rangers, has announced through his management agency that he has divorced his wife, actress and TV celebrity Saeko.

The pair, both aged 25, sent faxes to media outlets via the agency to announce that they submitted their divorce papers to a ward office in Tokyo on Thursday. It has also been revealed that Saeko will gain custody of their two children, Sports Nippon reported.

The couple, who married in November 2007, say the reason for the separation is so that their children can be raised in a healthier and more peaceful environment, and in order to pursue their respective careers.

The size of the alimony payments, which has not been disclosed, was "decided by mutual consent under the guidance of legal representation following court guidance," the agency said, according to Sports Nippon.

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48 Comments
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wow, she wants to get divorced (with fat alimony payments) soon after he gets a 60 million dollar deal. what a surprise.

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

wow, he wants to get divorced(freeing him up to sleep with anyone attracted to a fat wallet) soon after he gets a 60 million dollar deal. what a surprise.

4 ( +9 / -4 )

"...the reason for the separation is so that their children can be raised in a healthier and more peaceful environment,..."

Sounds like there was trouble in paradise.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Sounds like there was trouble in paradise.

What divorce doesn't have trouble at it's core?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

This is just the date that the divorce was finalized. The proceedings had been going on for quite some time, long before Darvish was posted and long before he agreed to his big contract with the Rangers. They started talking divorce back in late 2010. It just took this long for them to reach an agreeable settlement via the family court.

A story on Yahoo! Japan that said she was going to get roughly 2 million yen a month in child support. It also mentioned that she wasn't going to get any other monetary compensation ("isharyou") and that the property wasn't gonna be divided.

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20120120-00000053-spnannex-ent

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Not a big surprise....his family will be very comfortable while he is overseas cleared from distractions so he can fully concentrate on baseball.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I wonder of he will miss his 2 kids??

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Now we can look forward to the inevitable photo of Yu with a Texas bimbo on his arm.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Now we can look forward to the inevitable photo of Yu with a Texas bimbo on his arm.

From the size of his contract, he'll be able to afford a Texas bimbo on each arm.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Sounds like she just doesnt like America. With 60 million, they could healthy peaceful lives anywhere. Hope the kids at least get to visit their father. Children need to learn that the world is bigger than their neighborhoods.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

wise man and truly darvish!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If Darvish's ex had any brains, she would have read the divorce playbook of Tiger Wood's ex-wife...

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Elbuda MexicanoJAN. 20, 2012 - 01:22PM JST

I wonder of he will miss his 2 kids??

I heard that one of the kids looks like the male baby sitter and that is the reason for the divorce.

If this is the case, good for him for getting the divorce. It would also explain why no monetary compensation will be paid to the mother and no splitting of assets. Sounds like a good deal for him.

Of course, the kids will suffer not having their father around, and that is a sad but common fact in Japan.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Some of you really have no idea about this do you? They've been apart for years now - and it was only a matter of time before the divorce. Rumour has it that he liked his Sapporo's soapland a little too much.

They're both idiots. Dekichatta at all. Use a freaken condom. Bot have the money to buy them but decided not to.

1 ( +6 / -4 )

Knowing nothing of their relationship, gotta side with Yu on this one. It's obvious he wanted out of Japan for a few reasons. Just hope the kids get a chance to spend some time in America with him.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

tmarie is spot on. Ask any Japanese person who who is not completely clueless about the celebrity gossip and they will tell you that this was going on from last year, or maybe a few years ago.

This has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with Darvish signing with the Rangers.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

It's obvious he wanted out of Japan for a few reasons. Just hope the kids get a chance to spend some time in America with him.

He wants out for the money. From my understanding he doesn't see his kids now so I doubt he'd see them while in the US. They have been separated for a while now - ie, not living together.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Rumour has it that he liked his Sapporo's soapland a little too much.

With looks and cash, why mess with the soupurando?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

My close J male friend confided that his biggest fear of marrying J women is she may have affairs outside marriage..,I see his point!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@gaijinto @kirinlager... LOL

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If Darvish's ex had any brains, she would have read the divorce playbook of Tiger Wood's ex-wife...

For that to happen he would have had to of been married in the US, since it's Japan, the point is moot.

2 million a month in child support is more than some families make in an entire year, his kids will be be fine.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Although the circumstances are not quite exactly the same, I find it interesting that a few posters seem to feel that the former Mrs. Darvish has divorced her ex-husband so that she can get more of his money.

Yet, a day ago when the news of Ayumi Hamasaki's divorce broke, many posters were quick to place the blame on her for a variety of reasons. I don't believe anybody accused the soon-to-be former Mr. Hamasaki of being a gold digger.

Could it be that it both cases the issues involved are much more complex than can be easily summarized in a few paragraphs of some news story?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Some of you really have no idea about this do you? They're both idiots. Dekichatta at all. Use a freaken condom. Bot have the money to buy them but decided not to.

And some of you really know how to self-righteously trivialize other people's lives.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

actually that poor guy the other day was accused of being a gold-digger

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Being a pro-sportsman in The States, being married and faithful would have been impossible anyway for Mr.Darvish. He can now play the field (pun intended). Good luck to the kids - I hope he sends them a Xmas card or something once a year.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

A healthier, more peaceful environment? while both are off working? Someone I was talking to today about Darvish (I didn't know about the divorce until she told me) said it was supposedly because he cheated on her, but I have no idea if it's true or not. Seems pretty sudden.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

My close J male friend confided that his biggest fear of marrying J women is she may have affairs outside marriage..,I see his point!

People who know themselves tend to distrust others.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

2 million a month in child support is more than some families make in an entire year, his kids will be be fine.

What a comment. What kids need more than anything is caring parents who are there for them. They won't enjoy reading or hearing about what their parents were like later on.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I don't believe anybody accused the soon-to-be former Mr. Hamasaki of being a gold digger.

Not gold digger, fame-ho'. Like any celeb or sub-celeb marrying and divorcing another celeb under the bright lights of media... Ayumi didn't need that, and you rarely saw her with her Japanese ex. But Mannie, Yu and Saeko surely love the paparazzi fuss. Maybe less from now for Yu, since he's getting solid success, but when he got the trophy wife and the trophy babies he was super happy to get media coverage, wasn't he ?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

With all this money now, I hope Darvish knows how to handle more greenbacks than could fill a swimming pool. He used to love getting on the punt in Pachinko parlors whilst in High School - and there will be many more temptations like that in the States. Hope he has a good team of advisors and managers running the show.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Great role model he presents for Japanese teen males -- knock up some "talento"; have a shot gun marriage; apparently cheat on her; separate and basically abandon the kids; and, now, head stateside so you can make an obscene amount of money and spread your sperm around a foreign country. No wonder he is and will be even more the media darling there.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

60 Million over 6 years. They're divorcing now because he can afford the alimony and she's certain he'll not miss any payments. The divorce itself has probably been a long time coming, they just didn't have a comfortable enough buffer to make it a reality. Now he'll be halfway around the world and they'll be able to date again without risk of "running into the ex" on the date.

Here in Virginia, alimony is typically assigned for half the length of the time they were married. In Yu's case that would mean alimony for 2.5 years. Child support would go until the child reaches 18. Does Japan have similar limits or is everything open-ended?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Darvish has got girls left and right. I am sure the wife could not put up with it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Kirinlager:

Actually, that would be a surprise, if he were to divorce his wife, just to play the field. No pun intended. Numerous pro athletes have already shown that you can get a woman or two or more in every city you play in without getting a divorce.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Girls in Texas are hot hot HOT!! I don't feel bad for him at all.. well, maybe a bit because he didn't come to Toronto..

Does he have to pay alimony if he's earning money out of country?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

What a comment. What kids need more than anything is caring parents who are there for them.

Unfortunately, in Japan this doesn't exist - esp. after divorce, as there is no joint custody, and no enforcement of visitation.

The Japanese system treats children like property. If his wife remarries, under the Japanese rules, her new husband can adopt the children - and the father has no say in the matter.

It is despicable; and it is all a violation of the human-rights treaty, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Japan ratified in 1994 - but has ignored ever since.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

She should get minimal child support. They had short marriage. The longer the relationship, the greater the presumption that the parties should have an equal standard of living. The length of the relationship should be taken into account when determining how long spousal support should be paid for. She needs to go get a job.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

The couple, who married in November 2007, say the reason for the separation is so that their children can be raised in a healthier and more peaceful environment, and in order to pursue their respective careers............................

just another patriotic divorce, no self respecting J parents would like to bring up their kids in Texas !!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

What a comment. What kids need more than anything is caring parents who are there for them. They won't enjoy reading or hearing about what their parents were like later on.

Rather the kids be with the mother alone, or father, instead of having to deal and hear them fighting all the time over one or the other screwing around outside of the marriage.

The idea of a traditional 2 parent family has gone the way of the Edsel, sure it's nice when families can stick together but the reality is more and more people get divorced with kids getting separated from one or the other parents, it;s life and people who think otherwise need to get their heads out of the sand.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Sfjp330: Child support is for the children, payments should last until the children reach majority age. Spousal support should be limited.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Guess who didn't want to live in the United States...

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Rather the kids be with the mother alone, or father, instead of having to deal and hear them fighting all the time over one or the other screwing around outside of the marriage. Or they could have a civil divorce and allow both parents visitation - ha, like that really happens in Japan!

Oh, please. Do you think everyone who enters into wedlock is going to have a perfect marriage? And who are you to stand in judgement? You have no idea what problems they may have encountered. Indeed I don't - more so when it is a shotgun or two very young people who didn't really know each other. Why am I not allowed to judge? I have no idea all of the problems but since it is well known he can't keep it in his pants...

Its no one's business, except their's? Well the fact that they faxed news agencies to let them know... They both fed off the media frenzy of their wedding and kids. Live by the sword, die by the sword.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Agent: So Baltimore, Phillie or Texas Yu?

Yu: Chick situation?

Agent: Um, not Baltimore and definitely not Phillie.

Yu: Anaheim want me?

Agent: Sadly no.

Yu: Well Texas it is....

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I just hope he is not stupid enough to keep wearing those t shirts with big marijuana leaves printed on them, he was worried about the ENGLISH?? No, Darvish, that English was no problem but now in the US major leagues you will be a HERO to millions of kids in the USA and here in Japan too and as a ROLE MODEL walking around with marijuana leaves printed on your clothes?? Easy way to get kicked out of the US major leagues.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I agree with Tmarie, they are in the public lime light, so this is part of all the fame, gotta deal with the WHOLE WORLD wanting to know what is going on with Yu not only on the field but not in and outside of his bedroom, right??

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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