Former Japanese Top Actor Higashide Masahiro
Effectively Expelled from Entertainment Industry After Infidelity Scandal
Recently Announced Remarriage via YouTube
Japanese actor Higashide Masahiro (36), who became embroiled in controversy after his affair was revealed, leading to his divorce and subsequent cohabitation with three actresses in the mountains, has announced his remarriage.
On the 27th, Higashide personally announced his remarriage through his YouTube channel. His fianc?e, who is a former actress, is currently pregnant and is expected to give birth early next year. Regarding their remarriage, Higashide explained, "I got to know her as a junior on set about two years ago," adding, "(She) no longer acts and is living an ordinary life."
He continued to praise his fianc?e, saying, "She is very kind. So kind that she does not speak ill of others or complain; she is a very strong person." He then confessed his feelings, saying, "It’s pathetic, but I keep making mistakes in life. Being aware of my shortcomings, I hope to cherish her and our child and build happiness together."
Actor Higashide Masahiro (right). The woman on the left is his affair partner, Karata Erika. [Image source=Movie 'Asako' still]
He also asked reporters to refrain from investigating his wife’s personal information. However, Higashide said, "It’s okay to investigate me, but I’m a fickle person who only says what I want to say even if you come a long way, so I’m not sure if it will be a proper investigation," adding, "Still, I can offer a cup of tea, so please feel free to talk to me if there’s anything." He mentioned that he has been living in a remote mountain village in the Kanto region of Japan since 2022 and added, "I’m also looking forward to raising a child on this land."
Higashide debuted as an actor in 2012 with the film Kirishima, Bukatsu Yamerutteyo. He later gained public recognition by appearing in works such as Tomorrow I Will Date with Yesterday’s You, Wife of a Spy, and the drama Confidence Man JP.
In 2022, Fuji TV revealed that he was living in seclusion in the mountains, cohabiting with three actresses, which sparked further controversy. [Image source=Fuji TV broadcast capture]
Once a top actor on a smooth path, he married actress Anne, whom he met while co-starring in a drama, in 2015, and they had one son and two daughters. However, in 2020, it was revealed that he had an affair with an actress nine years his junior, leading to his divorce from his ex-wife and effectively being ousted from the entertainment industry.
Two years later, Japanese local broadcaster Fuji TV revealed that he was living in the mountains, sparking controversy once again. Higashide was reported to be living in a cabin in a remote mountain village in the Kanto region, cohabiting with three actresses aged 24, 27, and 29 at the time. When Fuji TV asked them why they lived with Higashide, they replied, "We have liked him for a long time and are senior-junior colleagues."
When the production team asked, "Could this spark a new scandal?" Higashide responded, "If I think about scandals, I don’t think I can treat people properly. We like each other as human beings," adding, "After the previous scandal, I couldn’t live in Tokyo, so I came here." He also reportedly lives a self-sufficient lifestyle here and has obtained a hunting license.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
