Top Girl Group Member Suddenly Announces Marriage To Musician 16 Years Older

Hinako Kitano, actress and former member of the popular Japanese girl group Nogizaka46, has announced her marriage. After graduating from the group, she has been actively working as an actress and TV personality, and fans are sending her warm congratulations and support upon hearing the happy news.

On December 20, 2025, Kitano revealed through her personal account that she has tied the knot with Yuki Kurei, a member of the co-ed duo Kimaguren. In a joint statement bearing both of their handwritten signatures, the couple wrote, “We will build a bright home full of laughter together with our beloved dogs,” and added, “We will continue to approach our given roles with sincerity, never forgetting our gratitude.”

Known in the entertainment industry as a devoted dog lover, Kitano shared that they met through an encounter guided by their dogs, confessing that their shared love for animals brought them closer. The couple also captured attention by revealing that they share the same birthday.

Debuting in 2013 as a second-generation member of Nogizaka46, Hinako Kitano was a core member of the group, loved for her bright smile and positive energy. She graduated in 2022 and has since transitioned into acting, steadily building her career through roles in various works such as Boy’s Abyss and Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department: Consultation Division 1.

Her husband, Yuki Kurei, is an accomplished musician who debuted in 2005 as part of the co-ed duo Kimaguren. Their 2008 single “LIFE” became a nationwide hit in Japan, even earning them a spot on the prestigious NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.