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Arashi's Sho Sakurai and Masaki Aiba announce surprise double marriage

Arashi's Sho Sakurai (left) and Masaki Aiba. (Photo: Instagram/arashi_5_official)
Arashi's Sho Sakurai (left) and Masaki Aiba. (Photo: Instagram/arashi_5_official)

Arashi members Sho Sakurai and Masaki Aiba announced on Tuesday (28 September) through the group's fan club site that they have each just tied the knot. They registered their marriages on separate days this month, and their wives are non-celebrities.

“Thank you for your support all this time. There is something I want to share with everyone today. I, Sho Sakurai, have just married. Since my audition (to enter Johnny & Associates) when I was 13 years old, it has been about 25 years. At that time, I was an ignorant youngster, but with all your support as my motivation, I am able to come this far,” wrote Sakurai.

The 39-year-old Sakurai added that he had made the big life decision to build a family before he reached the milestone of 40 years old. He asked for fans’ support, and said that he would continue to do his best.

Aiba also wrote a similar message, saying, “From now on, it will be the first step into a new milestone. But I hope for everyone’s support and I will continue working hard.”

According to their acquaintances, Sakurai's wife is his university schoolmate, who also works at a television station. They got closer over the last two years. As for Aiba, his wife used to be an artiste, and they met more than a decade ago.

While the rare double announcements caught many by surprise, fans and friends of Sakurai and Aiba are still elated at the good news. Even Tomohisa Yamashita, who was their junior in Johnny & Associates, took to his Instagram to give his "heartfelt blessing" to the newly-weds.

These happy announcements meant that three out of five Arashi members are now married. The first one to tie the knot was Kazunari Ninomiya, who levelled up to become a father earlier in March. Even though Arashi is now on hiatus, we are another step closer to the formation of a mini Arashi!