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Japanese golf star and heartthrob Ryo Ishikawa has disappointed his legions of female admirers by announcing his engagement to his childhood sweetheart.
Nicknamed "The Bashful Prince," he stayed true to form with the announcement, giving scant details about his forthcoming nuptials, including the name of his intended.
"I'm now 20 years old, so I decided the time was right," he said Sunday at Narita airport on his return from the U.S. Masters where he failed to make the cut, the Mainichi Shimbun and other media reported Monday.
"I got engaged last month, to a junior high school classmate," he said.
Ishikawa and his management are fiercely protective of his privacy, and despite his status as one of the biggest celebrities in Japan, the media generally plays along.
Japanese sports newspapers have described Ishikawa's fiancee as "a tall, slender beauty with long black hair," a catch-all description that gives little away.
Ishikawa first introduced her to "people related to him" during the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida last month and she also accompanied him to the Masters, the Sports Hochi said.
Asked about the timing of the engagement, Ishikawa said with an embarrassed smile that "there is no special meaning or emotion. It just happens to be this timing," the Nikkan Sports daily said.
Last October, his management announced Ishikawa was dating a girl he met in junior high school and called on the media to respect his privacy.
Ishikawa has been a hot marketing property since May 2007 when he became the youngest men's winner on a major tour by lifting the domestic Munsingwear Open KSB Cup aged 15 years and eight months. He turned professional in 2008.
With his squeaky clean image, he attracts huge galleries, many of them women, wherever he plays in Japan.
© AFP
30 Comments
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Sue_Rowell
Very nice post Nicky.
We all make mistakes and hopefully we all learn from them. They're young and seemingly in love. Maybe they will indeed end up living happily ever after.
yabits
I wish them all the happiness that life has to offer.
avenger
His first girlfriend? What happens 20 years later when his wife looks and acts like his grandma.
Ranger_Miffy2
Too young at 20? My parents recently celebrated their 60th anniversary & are still sweethearts. They married at 18 and 19 and it was not a shotgun wedding. As the oldest, I was born 11 months after the wedding. Best to you and your sweetie, Ryo!
Serrano
"a tall slender beauty with long black hair"
Hey, I think I've seen this girl!
Tamarama
I wonder what Tiger Woods' advice would be?.......
Nicky Washida
It may last, it may not, but who cares quite honestly. Right now, two people are happy, in love, and looking forward to possibly spending the rest of their lives together. how many of us can say that? Agree with no-more-war - life is change.
no_more_war
I got married at 20, and it was an excellent decision. I learned a lot and the whole episode paved the way for my life up to now. There was just one problem with the marriage and other than that, we were a great couple. Too bad that problem could not be fixed, but no regrets. I made a far worse choice at 28, so I am going to say that youth is not as dumb as you think, and age is not as clever.
I wish him a successful marriage, and in my book, a marriage can be successful in many ways even if it does end in divorce. Life is change.
USNinJapan2
Way too young for someone with as complicated and public a life as Ryo's. Best of luck though. He'll (they'll) need it...
Kwaabish
One word, Ryo... "Prenup"
Ivan Coughanoffalot
Marriage can get rough after a few years. He has a fair way to go yet before he's mature enough to choose his life partner. I hope this decision doesn't become an albatross around his neck.
serendipitous
It does seem a bit young when there are so many courses out there.....I'd get a few more birdies and holes-in-one before deciding!
risugirl
Best wishes!Now,concentrate on your game.
gyouza
20 is young. Both of them are still growing up and will find their true self in 5-10 years time. Doesn't mean it won't work, but the odds are against them. I wonder if having to date secretly is the pressure to get "officially" married? Hope it works out for them both.
samwatters
@iabcd. Thanks!
YongYang
It is young, but if it's love then it is what it is: Total. The bashers, cynics and those who laugh should all watch the film, Tell No One if you don't get how powerfully some people can fall into love. Have a great, meaningful life and listen to no one but yourselves.
Yubaru
JT pulease get the article title correct. She is his JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL sweatheart not HS deshoo!
tamanegi
Let the j―media frenzy begin!
iabcd
@samwatters
Lots of good suggestions but I doubt he'll see what you wrote. You should try and reach him through his official fan page of something instead.
smithinjapan
I think 20 is far too young to get married, but if they love each other, good for them.
nath
At least he can afford to have lots of babies unlike most women in Japan.
samwatters
Dear Ryo, congratulations on getting engaged. I write this letter as a fan of yours and I wish you nothing but the best. I know my opinion means nothing but I agree with the people on this board who are suggesting you wait. 20 is just too young for the vast majority of people to get married. But if this woman is to your heart what oxygen is to your brain, may I make one humble suggestion that could save you a lot of pain in the future? Make sure your finacee' has lived outside of the house/away from her parents for at least one year. If she makes the transition from "child" to "spouse" without ever leaving the house, you will be marrying the emotional equivalent of a junior high school. That might be OK for now but it will be a nightmare when adult issues arise. The same applies to you; do you still live with your family? If the answer is "yes," I suggest you live alone away from family for at least one year before committing to marriage. Sincerely, Sam ( a true fan).
BurakuminDes
Not so bashful after all - seems like the young man has been making all the right moves on the ladies! Good luck to him.
Pukey2
How many months is she?
Sue_Rowell
Best of luck to them both.
" Oh Ryo, I thought you were much smarter than that. She's a smart girl though - knows that she won't have to lift a finger if she marries a cash cow - not stating she's a gold digger but she def benefits more from this than he does."
LOL! Good thing you just didn't come right out and state she's a gold digger.
It's not totally out of the realm of possibility that they are getting married because they love each other, is it?
Maybe Ryo's much smarter than you think. It sounds like they've been thinking for awhile which means they probably discussed with their families. He probably has also discussed it with his agent (legal team) and other support people as well.
But if you're really concerned about his well being, could always reach out and leave a comment for him on his FB page.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ryo-Ishikawa-%E7%9F%B3%E5%B7%9D%E9%81%BC/126040534135416
ironchef
Don't ruin your life Ryo!! You are too young to be tied down!!
marcels
Oh C,mon RYO concentrate on winning golf tournaments outside Japan, 20 is way too young,A man with your golfing potential, golf should be the first priority,Remember these kinds of things will come later in life when you,ve been internationally successful, and you would be in a better position to choose who you are going to marry... Marrying so young might cloud your judgements and priorities, espescially when your a somebody here..
tmarie
Am glad he told the media to go stuff themselves about the personal talk - more should do that.
tmarie
20? Oh Ryo, I thought you were much smarter than that. She's a smart girl though - knows that she won't have to lift a finger if she marries a cash cow - not stating she's a gold digger but she def benefits more from this than he does.
rickyvee
wow, omedetou! but at such a young age. i wonder if it's a shotgun wedding. hope not, but the best to these two.