'Lee Kang-in's close friend' Japanese soccer star 'Kubo Takefusa' joins ranks of married men at 25, marrying actress Fukuhara Haruka

Lee Kang-in's close friend's second act: Sports and entertainment stars create Japan's newest power couple

Japan national team midfielder 'Kubo Takefusa' (25, 'Real Sociedad') sent Japan into a frenzy by announcing his surprise marriage to 'Fukuhara Haruka' (28), one of the country's most beloved actresses. The couple announced their marriage through their respective official social media accounts on the afternoon of the 2nd.

In the photos they shared, the two smiled brightly while wearing rings on their left ring fingers, captivating fans. "We have spent our lives receiving help and support from many people, from childhood to the present," they said. "We still have a long way to go, but we will not forget to be grateful. We will help and rely on each other and build a warm home filled with laughter."

After moving to Spain as a teenager and developing on the European stage, 'Kubo Takefusa' became a familiar figure to South Korean soccer fans as the same-age close friend who played alongside South Korean soccer star 'Lee Kang-in' at Mallorca. Since making his debut for Japan's senior national team at just 18 years and five days old, he has appeared at two consecutive World Cups — Qatar 2022 and North and Central America 2026 — establishing himself as the undisputed ace of Japanese soccer.

His fiancée, 'Fukuhara Haruka', is one of Japan's leading stars, having built a strong acting career since making her debut as a child actor in 2005. She became especially popular after playing the female lead in a 2022 morning serial drama on Japan's public broadcaster, 'NHK'. The union of two top stars representing the worlds of sports and entertainment has drawn intense attention from local media and become a major talking point.