SPEED's Hiroko Shimabukuo and Yuuki Saotome announce their engagement

SPEED's Shimabukuro Hiroko and stage actor Saotome Yuuki who is also Saotome Taichi's younger brother are engaged, according to an announcement released by Shimabukuro on her official website today. According to her agency, there are no plans yet on when the couple will register their marriage.

In her statement, Shimabukuro announced the good news and revealed that she and her fiance had met through work and started dating after that. Having worked in showbiz from a young age, Shimabukuro said that she is drawn to his seriousness, passion, frankness and warm attitude towards people and that she's thankful for having met him. She expressed thanks to everyone who had supported her in the last 20 years and pledged to continue working hard in future.

Shimabukuro made her debut in 1996 as a member of SPEED before her solo debut in 1999. The group disbanded in 2000 where she subsequently also took on acting. In 2008, SPEED reunited and she is currently juggling the group activities with her solo career. Saotome made his stage debut at the age of 1 year old and is mainly active in stage plays. He appeared in the Gekidan EXILE stage play "KABUKI" with his elder brother and Shimabukuro in February this year.

Prior to the engagement announcement, there was news of the couple's romantic involvement on 11 September and that they are already living together. Saotome is 12 years younger than Shimabukuro and had only turned 20 in May this year. Shimabukuro was spotted at his birthday event and played a key supporting role backstage. The couple were said to have met through a friend and started dating last summer. Coincidentally, they ended up working together in the "KABUKI" play this year along with Saotome's elder brother who also married young at the age of 21 to Nishiyama Maki who is 6 years older than him.

Sources: Sponichi 1 / Sponichi 2 / Oricon

^ And now it's official:

Hiroko Shimabukuro and Yuuki Saotome get married

SPEED's Shimakuro Hiroko and Saotome Yuuki registered their marriage on 11 February which was also their first anniversary since they started dating. According to insiders, the couple submitted their marriage application at a government office in Okinawa which is Shimabukuro's hometown.

Shimabukuro and Saotome were first reported to be an item in September last year and announced their engagement via their respective blogs. They met while acting in the stage play "KABUKI" and started dating soon after with the intention of getting married.

Shimabukuro made her debut as a SPEED member in 1996 while Saotome who is 12 years younger than her, was only a baby at the same time. She will continue working after marriage while Saotome will continue working in stage plays. There are no plans for a wedding and they will be looking for a new apartment to live together.

Source: Sponichi