[Report] Masaru Hamaguchi & Akina Minami share the secret to a happy family! “TOKYO Marriage Support Festa” held in Yurakucho

In Tokyo, where the number of unmarried people and late marriages is serious, various efforts are being made to support people who are interested in marriage but are unable to take the first step toward marriage and to foster momentum. As part of this, the "TOKYO Marriage Support Festa", a real-life event where people can have fun while obtaining opportunities to be positive about marriage and useful information, was held in front of Yurakucho Station on November 23, 2024.

"TOKYO Marriage Support Festa" venue

The "Tokyo Marriage Support Festa", which started in 2022 and has been well received every time it is held, was a huge success this time as well. Although it was held in the cold winter air and strong winds from the buildings, it was noticeable that people who were interested in passing by joined in the event as they were in the square in front of Yurakucho Station, which is a busy area.

This time, in addition to seminars by marriage agency representatives and marriage consultants on themes such as "How to proceed with marriage hunting without accumulating stress" and "What should you talk about with the opposite sex? Communication in marriage hunting", there were also participatory and experiential content in collaboration with private companies, such as lectures by matchmaking app operators on how to use matchmaking apps safely and securely, a "trial marriage consultation" where you can talk to a real counselor, and a "beautiful eyebrow makeup experience corner" with professional hair and makeup artists. Of these, the experience booth where you could have your profile photo, which is essential for marriage hunting, taken by a professional photographer seemed to be popular with both men and women.

A lecture by a matching app operator

Free photoshoot with a professional photographer

A capsule machine where you can receive a card with a mission to take your search for a partner one step further

In addition, the venue was livened up by a live performance by singer BENI and ukulele singer KAIKI, as well as a talk stage about marriage by comedian duo Yoiko's Hamada Masaru and talent Minami Akina.

BENI sang five songs about meeting and marriage, including "Baby Blue" and "Eien." The audience, overflowing from the square, listened intently to her singing.

KAIKI performed five songs, including the marriage support campaign song "Let's Get Married." Her heartwarming tunes and singing voice made everyone forget the cold.

Hamaguchi and Minami got married in 2018, and this year marks their sixth year of marriage. They are known as one of the most loving couples in the entertainment industry, with a baby boy being born in 2022 and the couple recently receiving the "Partner of the Year 2024" award. According to Minami, they met at a mutual acquaintance's birthday party. Minami was sitting alone when Hamaguchi invited her over, saying, "Come over here."

At first, she saw Hamaguchi as just a senior, but after having meals together several times, Hamaguchi confessed his feelings to her and their relationship began.

From the left, hosts Tamami Miura, Masaru Hamaguchi, and Akina Minami

When asked what made her decide to start dating, she revealed, "When I'm with him, I feel a sense of security, like no matter what happens, I'll be okay, I can survive." She also drew laughter from the audience with her talk, reminiscent of "Yoiko's Deserted Island Zero Yen Life," saying, "It's because he has incredible survival skills (laughs)."

When asked about the secret to a happy family, she replied, "I think it's important to put things into words properly. It's basic, but things like, 'Thank you,' or 'I love you,'" and she said that saying "I love you" in particular has become a bedtime habit, and she actually reenacted the scene where she does so.

Minami-san: "Let's go to sleep!"
Hamaguchi-san: "Thank you for today."
Minami: "Thank you very much."
Hamaguchi: "I love you"
Minami: "I love you"

The two of them looked at each other and smiled shyly. Their friendship was so good it made us blush just listening to them, and the audience applauded, filling the venue with an aura of happiness.

Meanwhile, Hamaguchi says that in order to maintain a happy family, she is conscious of "not letting her emotions get the better of her." "Even if there's something that makes me think 'Hmm?', I'll calm down and think about it for a moment, and if I think 'There's no need to say it,' then I won't say it. If I think 'I should tell her,' then I can calm down and tell her gently. It's not about putting up with it, but if I can calm down and think about it for a moment, then there won't be any arguments," and apparently this is how the two of them don't get into fights.

For example, Hamaguchi is forgetful and often forgets to lock the house. Instead of getting emotional and criticizing him, Minami jokingly told him, "You leave the door open! You'd be lonely if I was kidnapped, right? (laughs)" and the conversation ended on a friendly note, showing her techniques for avoiding strained relationships.

Minami was also asked about Hamaguchi's good points. "What I like the most is that he cares for the people around him. It's wonderful that he cares for not only me and my family, but also the people he works with!" she said, expressing her affection so frankly, that Hamaguchi blushed and said, "I'm happy." The two continued to share stories that showed the kind personalities of the couple, and I'm sure many people now have a positive image of their marriage.

The couple also serve as selection committee members for "TOKYO Futari Memories," a project that solicits stories from the public about how they met, searched for a partner, got married, and life after marriage, and publishes them as short stories in online manga. On the day of the event, Shizuka Yamaguchi, the manga artist who drew the online manga, and the seven people whose stories were selected also took to the talk stage. They sent words of encouragement to those taking the first step towards marriage.

"There were so many people who said, 'I met my ideal partner through a matchmaking app,' and I thought it reflected the times. I enjoyed reading it, feeling warm and tearful, knowing that each story was touching," said Hamaguchi. Yamaguchi became interested in matchmaking after receiving an offer for this project this year, and not only did she find a partner, she is now pregnant, which created a celebratory mood in the venue.

The talk stage ended in a friendly atmosphere

Future "TOKYO Marriage Support Festa" events will be updated on the marriage support portal site "TOKYO Futari STORY" operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The "TOKYO Futari Memories" web manga and useful information on marriage and matchmaking can also be viewed here, so if you're interested, why not take a look?