Actor Junichi Ishida, 55, and his pro-golfer fiancee Riko Higashio, 34, were spotted hand-in-hand at Narita airport Monday, on their way to Napa Valley in California for a week to plan their upcoming wedding there in May.
The pair were in "rabu rabu" (love) mode, with Higashio recording footage of Ishida with her video camera, and also of the media swarm who were laying in wait at the airport hoping to get a scoop on various celebrity couples traveling abroad and coming back to Japan.
Higashio was sporting an engagement ring which was visible when the pair weren't holding hands. Ishida said: "I hope to make it a ceremony that fulfils the dreams of Riko and her parents."
© News reports
36 Comments
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LoveUSA
let us be happy for this couple and not be ironic, anybody can feel love, even people like Ishida Junichi.
DenDon
hahahahahaha you don't have a clue eh?
1stGaijinman
Hopefully she's better at marriage than playing golf!
LoveUSA
All that matters is that both love each other - her father may like or dislike him but it is irrelevant because they are adults and can decide their future for themselves. I am sure that if Riko said that she disliked Ishida, he would leave her because he is not a stalker imposing himself on a lady who dislikes him. But as she is in love with him, he will stay with her for as long as they want which I hope is a long period and not as everybody is hurrying to predict that they will separate quickly.
herefornow
LoveUSA -- huh? How in the world do you infer from my comment that I "dream about being married many times"? Please, don't put your, or maybe your husband's, fantasies on me. First off, I am in a committed relationship, and have been for several years, which gets better every day. Second, I have a rule against dating J-ladies, so any thrill Ishida-san gets by courting and marrying them is totally lost on me. Find another target for your silly pop-psycholgy. And, if he's such a "nice guy", how come her father can't stand him?
LoveUSA
this makes me think that Riko Hagashio has been lucky and met a very good guy who is a real man and gentleman and will take responsibility and marry her.
DenDon
dream about marrying many times? hahaha what a dream. I prefer to bin them after a few weeks ta and find a new one
LoveUSA
He is a nice guy who happens to have married many times, you can only dream about it.
herefornow
Does anyone know which TV station is paying for the wedding? Surely one is. I mean hell, one paid for exclusive rights to secretly tape his proposing to her, so you must assume they'll whore out their wedding as well. He craves the PR. Do you think he'll wear socks for the big day?
flatearther
Enjoy Napa, or should I say, enjoy the wine. Possibly one of the most boring vacation spots I've ever been to, the wine is the only thing to make it bearable, honestly.
If you're looking for romantic spots, try Catalina Island. Gorgeous and not quite as crowded as Napa, with twice the scenery.
LoveUSA
He is handsome and famous, she is a talented golfer, so people are interested in their affairs and wish them luck and happiness.
Pachipro
Big freakin' deal! So what! Do people really give a crap about what this couple, or any famous couple for that matter, does and if so, why? It's beyond me why people are so obsessed with famous people when they couldn't give a damn about you and your family.
LoveUSA
JT, please keep us informed what happened in the Napa Valley in California. I am very envious of this couple because they will tour the vinaries there and drink California wine until they can have it no more. I think that the Napa vinaries are one of the most wonderful place in the world for expressing one's love.
some14some
Couple making fun of themselves and that is entertainment for us !
PepinGalarga
i don't think she's got what it takes to keep him all to herself.
LoveUSA
Potsie, I have a hobby which is reading poetry. So I appreciate the poetic in life, you can see it is logical that I was drawn to the romantic experience of this couple.
flatearther
Well, I hope it lasts.
Knowing his track record, though, I doubt it. Good luck to her.
The758
Excuse me, I think I'm going to be sick ...
Sarge
"media swarm"
They don't have anything better to cover, if you can believe that.
Potsu
LoveUSA: "I love that they are happy together, she is beaming and he seems infatuated, they are smiling and laughing together, it is a proof of their love, they adore each other and this photo is really lovely and warm."
Um,that's a pretty in depth comment....do you have a hobby ??Sarge
"rabu-rabu mode"
That's almost the same as lovey-dovey mode.
LoveUSA
Yes, one of my New Year's resolution. He is not marrying her father, so her father should not interrfere because the guy might be her only one true love. I love the smiles on their faces, it is a light coming from inside.
goddog
marriage was meant for the dark ages when we lived no longer than 25 years.
norinrad21
Love you are becoming quite the champion of defending marriages and ongoing marriages. The shrink biz must be booming?
memyselfI
He's old ( like dust ) and she's young ( like silk ) the marriage will not last. He needs a maid so he's looking for a younger woman.
Let's see how long the romance lasts.
harmoneeikaiwa
Who will break up first,Ichikawa or Ishida ? Like Tiger,there will be no changing of spots,despite LoveUSA's utopian dreams.
bobbafett
so true
sctaber56
California's Napa Valley - what a lovely choice for a "destination wedding." I wish the happy couple many long, loving years together. Everyone deserves a bit of happiness - some JT readers are much too cynical.
DenDon
she plays golf
lostrune2
"Women marry men hoping they would change, but they never do. Men marry women hoping they would not change, but they always do."
whatanidiot
“I hope to make it a ceremony that fulfils the dreams of Riko and her parents.” well if he really wants to please her father, he should cancel that wedding !! haha !!
stirfry
"rabu rabu" mode ? can it get any more childish ?
JA_Cruise
ditto
LoveUSA
They are not married yet and you are already wishing them a divorce, it is kind of sad because everybody is looking and hoping for the best in the future, and they, as every other couple and human being, wish for their happinness, have expectations and dreams of their mutual life. I love that they are happy together, she is beaming and he seems infatuated, they are smiling and laughing together, it is a proof of their love, they adore each other and this photo is really lovely and warm. He is maybe a playboy but playboys can get transformed by love too. I hope they have a nice vacation full of love and fulfilled dreams.
ahocchau
Maybe someone should start a photo album of these Japanese "tarentos" before and after their divorce. This one should not last more than a year.