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

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…

By Samantha Johnson / April 24, 2026

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.

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Taishu engeki is a popular Japanese theatre form that merges traditional dance, kabuki, and emotional storytelling, often featuring male actors in female roles.

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
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

Established by the woman’s mother 40 years ago, Tsubaki once boasted around 50 members and toured Japan’s hot spring towns to perform.

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