Fans Excited as J-Hope Shares Instagram Story Featuring Actor Kentaro Sakaguchi

On October 26, 2024, BTS member j-hope delighted fans with a surprise on Instagram, sharing photos alongside the renowned Japanese actor, Kentaro Sakaguchi. The posts, which appeared in his Instagram story, generated a buzz on social media, particularly due to his playful caption:

“This hyung is looking younger and younger (Lee hyung keeps getting younger).”

This surprising encounter between the K-pop star and the celebrated actor caught the attention of many fans instantly. Social media quickly filled with enthusiastic responses as followers expressed their joy over the duo’s interaction. One fan posted on X:

“My worlds are colliding.”

“Absolutely love to see my favorite idol and my new husband together,”commented another fan.

“I knew they would meet up since Kentaro’s still in Korea for promotions,”noted another X user.

“I can’t believe how Kentaro doesn’t age at all! Lee Youngji was right, he was everyone’s crush back then and still is,”wrote a different user.

Some members of the ARMY were astonished that j-hope, who had just completed his military service on October 18, was already reconnecting with friends.

“I still can’t believe he’s out and socializing! My social butterfly!”shared one ARMY member.

“I’m happy he’s spending time with friends and unwinding,”added another fan.

“WAIT A MINUTE THEY ARE FRIENDSSSS OMGGGGGG.”

Another fan fondly recalled a previous occasion when j-hope and Sakaguchi met.

“Aww, it’s lovely they’re still friends! For younger ARMYs who might not know, “Don’t Leave Me” was the theme song for the Japanese remake of “Signal,” where Kentaro starred back in 2018,”recalled this ARMY.

Exploring the Friendship Between BTS’ j-hope and Kentaro Sakaguchi

Kentaro Sakaguchi, a celebrated Japanese actor and model, shares a long-standing friendship with BTS that has developed over several years. Their connection began in 2018 when Sakaguchi took part in the Japanese version of the hit Korean drama Signal. BTS provided the theme song, “Don’t Leave Me,”for the show, further deepening Sakaguchi’s bond with the group. During that period, he also attended BTS’ fan meeting in Japan, solidifying their friendship.

In a July 2018 episode of MBC’s Section TV, while promoting his film Tonight, at the Movies, Sakaguchi expressed admiration for BTS:

“They make an incredible team. Having developed a friendship with the members, I hope to collaborate with them in the future,”he mentioned.

After seeing their performance live in Japan, he praised their skills, describing their show as “really impactful,”and highlighted his admiration for their singing and dancing.

In particular, j-hope and Sakaguchi’s friendship shone through in 2018 when they were seen dining together during one of Sakaguchi’s visits to Korea. Sakaguchi showed continued support for BTS by attending the 2019 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) on December 4, where he presented BTS with the ‘Best Dance Performance Male Group’ award. Fans were thrilled to see j-hope’s joy upon seeing Sakaguchi on stage.

Their connection was brought to light again in December 2022 when Kentaro shared a photograph with j-hope at that year’s MAMA on his Instagram. In addition, on December 14, j-hope expressed his appreciation by posting an image of a floral gift he received from Sakaguchi, along with a touching message in Japanese, acknowledging him as his “best friend.”

Kentaro Sakaguchi rose to prominence through his roles in well-known TV dramas such as Tokyo Tarareba Musume (2017) and Signal (2018). He has also showcased his talent in films like The 100th Love with You (2017) and Color Me True (2018).

Recently, Sakaguchi starred in the K-drama What Comes After Love (2024), which tells a poignant cross-national romance between a Korean woman and a Japanese man, featuring Lee Se-young as his co-star.

This series premiered on Coupang Play from September 27 to October 25, 2024, and is currently streaming on Viu and Viki in select areas.

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