[ti:Stars of Japanese 'Contract Marriage' TV Program Marry in Real Life] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:01.80]Actors Gen Hoshino and Yui Aragaki played unusual, [00:07.32]but appealing, lovers in a well-liked Japanese TV show. [00:13.36]Now, they are really getting married. [00:16.36]The couple announced their decision in a joint statement [00:20.52]posted Wednesday on Aragaki's Instagram account. [00:25.80]It is an example of "life imitates art," [00:29.28]which means that life sometimes seems to be a copy of a work of art. [00:35.12]That is amusing because we usually think of art [00:38.28]as a copy of something in real life. [00:42.12]"We would like to announce that we, [00:44.24]Gen Hoshino and Yui Aragaki, [00:47.48]are getting married," the statement said. [00:51.32]"We hope you will continue to warmly support us both." [00:55.28]Aragaki and Hoshino acted together [00:59.00]in the 2016 humorous show, [01:01.92]"Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu," [01:05.40]or "It's Shameful to Run, but It Works." [01:09.72]Hoshino played a businessman who hires a young woman, [01:14.20]played by Aragaki, as a housekeeper. [01:18.64]They begin with a business relationship. [01:21.48]They slowly develop feelings of love for each other. [01:26.24]They decide on an agreement that is a little like marriage, [01:30.08]but only for three years. [01:32.84]The story spoke to one problem in Japanese society: [01:36.92]young people are waiting until later in life [01:39.64]to marry and have children. [01:43.04]The result is one of the lowest birth rates in the world. [01:46.52]Hoshino wrote and sang the memorable theme song, "Koi" or "Love." [01:53.68]It was also very popular, including its dance moves. [01:59.00]"Heartbeats throb within distance," the song goes. [02:03.04]"Go outside the limits of man and wife." [02:07.16]Caroline Kennedy, who was then U.S. ambassador to Japan, [02:11.72]had shared a video on YouTube [02:14.08]of the embassy staff and herself doing the dance. [02:18.84]The show is based on a "manga" or illustrated story. [02:23.80]It also showed the long-standing inequalities [02:27.32]between men and women in Japan. [02:30.76]The female character in the story has a university degree, [02:35.16]but loses her job. [02:37.28]With no better opportunities, [02:39.80]she decides to work as a housekeeper. [02:43.40]As the two become friends, [02:45.20]they show respect for each other, without strong feelings. [02:50.12]Slowly, they find they have fallen in love. [02:53.24]Hoshino is a 40-year-old, award-winning musician. [02:59.12]He has played a lead in many movies, [03:01.88]including 2020's "The Voice of Sin." [03:05.84]Aragaki, age 32, started as a fashion model. [03:11.48]She appears in Uniqlo and Toyota advertisements. [03:16.12]The couple has not yet said the date for their wedding. [03:20.84]The reaction from their followers [03:22.76]on social media in Japan was: "Oh, wow." [03:27.44]In his Instagram message, Hoshino said, [03:30.52]"We hope to work together to build a calm, happy life." [03:34.64]I'm Jill Robbins. [03:37.28]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM