appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

liveArticle

appConfig

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sectionsV2

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

json

Zoey Zhang

After two decades of a loveless personal life, a 60-year-old traditional dancer in Japan discovered unexpected late-life love with a protege who is 34 years her junior.
In April, the couple made an appearance on the Japanese television show Welcome, Newlyweds!, but they chose to keep their true identities private.
The wife, a seasoned performer from Ibaraki in eastern Japan, has dedicated her life to traditional dance since childhood and currently teaches at Tsubaki, a local taishu engeki troupe.
Taishu engeki is a popular Japanese theatre form that merges traditional dance, kabuki, and emotional storytelling, often featuring male actors in female roles.

Established by the woman’s mother 40 years ago, Tsubaki once boasted around 50 members and toured Japan’s hot spring towns to perform.
Having been divorced three times, the woman had resigned herself to a loveless existence, spending over 20 years without a relationship – until a 26-year-old man entered her life.
An office worker with a long-standing admiration for taishu engeki, he had avoided pursuing it due to family objections.
His opportunity arose when he spotted the Tsubaki troupe’s sign, visited the theatre, and eagerly joined.

At the theatre, he first encountered the woman’s mother, whose striking hairstyle captivated him. He felt at ease only when the woman herself made her entrance.
Immediately, he was taken by her beauty, while she found him youthful and handsome.
They exchanged contact information and began their artistic journey together as master and disciple.
Just three days after he joined the troupe, the woman took the initiative, revealing her single status and expressing her interest in him.

Their connection deepened as they portrayed lovers trapped in a forbidden romance.
Watching her dance filled him with an instant attraction, and he later remarked that the moment he held her hand, he sensed she was “the one fate had chosen” for him.
During a fireworks festival, he declared his love: “I will protect you for the rest of my life. I will care for you in every way, even changing your diapers one day.”
Their relationship encountered challenges, particularly as the woman is nine years older than his mother, and his family initially disapproved of their union.
However, familiarity eventually dulled the family’s objections. In December last year, the couple officially registered their marriage.

Today, his mother views her as “a reassuring older sister,” while his younger sisters confide in her as a “second mother” regarding love and life.
Their love story has ignited conversations across Japan’s social media, with one netizen commenting: “One of the purest, most genuine loves I have ever seen. Age does not matter here. Her childlike smile still seems to soothe his soul.”
Another noted: “She does not look 60 at all. She is radiant, full of energy, and her skin appears youthful. That must be the magic of a lifetime on the stage.”


Unexpected love: Japan traditional dancer finds love at 60 with 26-year-old devoted protege

Singaporean man charged after viral Lucky Plaza assault on Filipino woman

US animal rights activists clash with police over Wisconsin dog breeder

7 French tourists arrested after viral Songkran spray clash with van driver in Phuket

Viral stories

In Japan, a 60-year-old dancer has captured social media’s attention with her unexpected romance with her 26-year-old apprentice. Photo: tv-asahi.co.jp

Taishu engeki is a popular form of Japanese theatre that combines traditional dance, kabuki, and emotional storytelling, often featuring male actors in female roles, as shown by the couple’s performance, above, where the man donned women’s clothing. Photo: QQ

At the theatre, the man, above, was captivated by her beauty, while she saw him as youthful and handsome. Photo: QQ

Just three days after the man joined the troupe, the woman took the initiative to express her single status and convey her interest in him. Photo: QQ

Watching her dance ignited an instant attraction within him; the young man later remarked that the moment he held her hand, he felt she was “the one”. The pair registered their marriage last December. Photo: QQ

News

People & Culture

The couple’s recent appearance on a Japanese television show generated considerable buzz and discussion among the public


The couple’s recent appearance on a Japanese television show generated considerable buzz and discussion among the public.


Japan

Unexpected love: Japan traditional dancer finds love at 60 with 26-year-old devoted protege

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The couple’s recent appearance on a Japanese television show generated considerable buzz and discussion among the public

The couple’s recent appearance on a Japanese television show generated considerable buzz and discussion among the public