Japanese actress Mei Nagano has recently found herself at the center of controversy as rumors of multiple romantic entanglements circulate in the media. A report published on April 23 by Japanese weekly magazine Shūkan Bunshun alleges that Nagano has been involved in an extramarital affair with actor Kei Tanaka, and is also romantically linked to Korean actor Kim Moo-jun
According to the report, Tanaka Kei—who married actress Sakura in 2011 and shares two daughters with her—has been secretly meeting with Nagano Mei, who is 15 years his junior. The alleged relationship is said to have begun after they co-starred in the 2021 film And the Baton Was Passed, where they portrayed a father-daughter duo. The film was notably screened at the 27th Busan International Film Festival in 2022, making it familiar to many Korean viewers. The contrast between their on-screen relationship and the real-life rumors has left many fans shocked.
Adding fuel to the speculation, a leaked photo purportedly shows Nagano and Tanaka either holding hands or in close physical proximity, which has led to increased public scrutiny. This isn’t Tanaka’s first time facing such allegations—he was previously caught up in an affair scandal with a gravure idol back in 2015.
Further complicating matters, Shūkan Bunshun also reported that Nagano may be involved in a romantic relationship with Kim Moo-jun, a Korean actor currently starring alongside her in the TBS drama Caster, which premiered on April 13. Paparazzi photos surfaced showing the two sitting together in a car parked in front of Nagano’s residence, prompting a fresh wave of speculation.
Kim Moo-jun’s agency, 9ato Entertainment, has since stepped forward to deny the dating rumors, clarifying to OSEN that there is no romantic relationship between him and Nagano. The agency emphasized that the two are simply “close colleagues.”
Kei Tanaka has also responded to the allegations, stating that while he and Nagano are on friendly terms, they are not romantically involved.
As public interest continues to grow, neither Nagano nor her agency has issued a direct statement regarding the rumors. Fans and media alike are watching closely as the situation unfolds.
