A man in southern Japan fell in love with his friend’s daughter and became her husband, despite the 30 year age gap between them.
At first, the mother was shocked and disappointed, but she eventually gave the relationship her blessing.
On October 19, the Japanese television show Newlyweds, Please Come In introduced a couple whose love story quickly stirred debate.
Mizuki, 53, from Kagawa prefecture, runs a local bar, while his much younger wife, Megumi, stays home to manage the household.
Every night before going to bed, Mizuki tells his wife one thing he loved about her that day, a small ritual that has become part of their daily life.
Decades ago, Mizuki met a woman his age at a bar, and they became close friends.
One day, she asked him to look after her then five-year-old daughter, Megumi, while she was working.
He took the little girl to a playground, never imagining their paths would cross again.
In 2022, Megumi started working at her mother’s snack bar. Mizuki, still a family friend, often stopped by to chat, eat and have a drink.
One day, the three planned to go to the cinema together, but Megumi’s mother overslept. Mizuki and Megumi went alone, and that outing became their first date.
During dinner, the usually talkative Mizuki was quiet.
Megumi later said he reminded her of a silent bear and thought he was adorable.
From then on, she began inviting him to dinner every week.
At first, Megumi believed her feelings were simple admiration for someone older.
But when she caught herself feeling jealous about a woman who spoke to him, she realised she was in love.
She eventually confessed her feelings, and the two began dating. It is unclear if Mizuki had ever been married or had children before.
Megumi’s mother was shocked when she discovered their relationship. She agreed to let them date but firmly opposed the idea of marriage.
After a year together, Mizuki proposed, saying he was simply “too in love to hold back”.
In January, the couple quietly registered their marriage without telling Megumi’s mother.
During the television show, Mizuki read a heartfelt letter to his former friend, now his mother-in-law, apologising for not considering her feelings at the time.
“Although you once opposed us, now you support us in silence, and I am truly grateful,” he said.
The mother-in-law smiled and replied: “That is enough already. You two are so in love.”
Other members of Megumi’s family have not commented on the marriage.
The couple’s story has sparked a discussion on social media.
One online observer said: “I can feel the mother’s sense of loss and anger. She lost a friend and grew distant from her daughter.”
Another person said: “At least they had the courage to face pressure from both family and society. That deserves respect.”
“True love does not care about age or status. What matters most is that they found happiness together,” added a third. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
