The Dark Side of a Beauty Icon’s Marriage: Chose a “Safe” Man with Mediocre Looks, Turns Out He Was a Master of Cheating
While both were criticized for their shamelessness, many netizens were puzzled by Nagano Mei’s romantic choices. How could someone so beautiful, with such an ethereal image, end up being “the other woman” for someone like Tanaka Kei, who’s far from a classic leading man and already over 40? This controversy has brought another actress back into the spotlight — Sasaki Nozomi, an undisputed beauty icon in Japanese showbiz, not for her own scandal, but for her surprisingly similar taste in men.
If it were just about dating someone less handsome, it wouldn’t be a big deal — happiness matters most. But sometimes, an unremarkable appearance only hides a darker reality. Some of these men, it turns out, are seasoned cheaters.
The Shocking Case of Ken Watabe
Before the Nagano Mei – Tanaka Kei incident, there was the public scandal surrounding comedian Ken Watabe, husband of Sasaki Nozomi.
Sasaki Nozomi is no stranger to the spotlight in Japan. With angelic beauty and a sensual figure, she was frequently named among the 100 Most Beautiful Faces in the World. She truly was the “jewel of Japanese showbiz”.
In 2017, she shocked fans by marrying Ken Watabe, a comedian 15 years her senior. The stark difference in age, appearance and status raised eyebrows, but Nozomi defended her love and even gave birth to their first child shortly after.
But in 2020, Watabe’s facade crumbled. It was revealed that he had cheated on Nozomi with at least six women during their marriage. Japanese media later uncovered a staggering 182 affairs, involving AV actresses, BBQ restaurant workers, a 50-year-old wrestler, and even four unnamed male celebrities. Watabe was also accused of participating in “group activities” and engaging in inappropriate behavior in public bathrooms and so on.
One friend revealed that Watabe lived a chaotic private life, dating multiple women even while he was dating Nozomi — and he didn’t stop after their wedding.
What baffled the public most was: how could a man, blessed with a stunning, talented wife, still choose such a path of betrayal?
The Confounding Forgiveness of Sasaki Nozomi
After the scandal broke, Watabe publicly apologized and paused all activities — but not without blaming his wife, subtly accusing her of being “dirty” and “lazy around the house”.
His career was destroyed. Watabe was blacklisted and lost all endorsement deals. By 2021, he was reportedly working in Toyosu Fish Market, doing manual labor like hauling boxes. On forums, fans claimed to have spotted him transporting sea urchins, hiding under a cap and mask to avoid recognition.
Everyone assumed Sasaki Nozomi would divorce him. Yet in 2023, she stunned fans once more by announcing the birth of their second child, saying, “Our family welcomed a new angel recently. Please continue to support us.”
Though she never publicly addressed her decision, reactions were overwhelmingly negative. Many couldn’t understand why she forgave him, and some even criticized her for being too soft-hearted.
She remained silent. Nozomi continued to work in entertainment, albeit discreetly, while Watabe effectively vanished, branded permanently as “the worst man of the year”.
In the end, love is personal, and appearance isn’t everything. No one should be judged for falling for someone “less attractive”, but when the drama piles up unnecessarily, it’s only natural for the public to speak out.
