Buzz
Officially in a romantic relationship, this couple has never shared a public photo with their fans.
Placed in the 'group of death' at the 2022 World Cup with powerhouses Spain and Germany, Japan truly performed wonders. In the early morning match today (2/12), Japan impressively secured a 2-1 victory over Spain, securing their spot in the Round of 16 as leaders of Group E.
This was a remarkably successful comeback as they had previously trailed Spain by a goal. Ao Tanaka was the one who scored the second goal, sealing a 2-1 victory and creating a shock against Spain.
Born in 1998, Ao Tanaka currently plays for the Fortuna Düsseldorf club in Germany.
A Love Story with a Girlfriend Over 4 Years Older
Beyond the football career, the romantic aspect of this player's life has garnered significant attention.
It is known that his girlfriend, an 'older sister,' was born in 1994. In early 2022, Japanese football fans buzzed with rumors that Tanaka was dating a famous singer in the country. By March 2022, the 24-year-old player openly admitted to being in a romantic relationship with Airi Suzuki, a former member of the C-ute group.
'Yes, I am dating Airi Suzuki. Currently, I am focusing on the Japanese national team and want to concentrate on football. I don't want to disturb her with this, so I won't mention it again. Ask me about football,' Tanaka candidly shared.
Additional details about the charming young player's heartthrob, a former music group member, are beginning to unfold.
Originally a member of a music group, by 2017, Airi had gone solo.
The couple is extremely private, not even a single publicly shared photo of them together exists. There are many rumors about the serendipity that brought this couple together, with speculation that baseball player Gaku Shibasaki played a role in matchmaking Tanaka and Airi.
It is known that Gaku's wife is Erina Mano, a former member of the Hello! Project music group. This is also where Airi began her singing career in 2002.
There is also information suggesting that Airi's father, Toru Suzuki, a golfer, was the one who introduced his daughter to Tanaka.
However, these rumors remain just that—rumors, as those involved keep things extremely discreet.
Normally, Tanaka only shares pictures from the soccer field on his personal page. No everyday life photo of him can be found publicly.
Insights from the girlfriend's parents
As for Airi, she has never posted anything related to her boyfriend. Without a candid admission from Ao Tanaka, perhaps nobody would even know that this couple is in love. It's undeniably peculiar as both are public figures, yet their secrecy in their relationship is exceptionally guarded.
After Tanaka publicly declared his love, Airi updated her blog to express:
'I'm sure some of you already know from the morning reports, but I am in a relationship with soccer player Tanaka. I apologize for surprising you.'
Alongside this, she also revealed their plans for 2022 and affirmed their commitment to their respective careers.
'This year, 2022, is an important year for both him and me. We will seriously face the tasks at hand and continue our activities as before. Please warmly follow us.'
Due to this sincerity and openness, the age-difference sisterly love has received considerable praise and support.
It's not surprising that Airi loves an athlete, given her background in a sports-oriented family. Both her parents are professional golf athletes. Growing up in an athlete's environment, Airi likely understands the busy and challenging lives of athletes.
According to some sources published in the Japanese media, the couple came together due to a shared passion for playing golf and a deep love for family. The report also reveals that Tanaka proposed to his girlfriend before he went to Germany in the summer of 2021. Some believe that the parents from both sides have officially met.
Their love story has captured the attention of the press. Unable to get information from the main characters, many reporters turned to Toru Suzuki - Airi's father. Faced with questions about whether Airi and Tanaka are considering marriage, he responded: 'I can't say about that. I only hear about their relationship from what appears in the media.'
Perhaps, it will take some more time for questions about the love story between this talented couple to be answered.
Source: TokyoHive, GirlsChannel
