A man in Japan – who for seven years was blissfully unaware of the 25-year age gap between him and his girlfriend – only discovered her true age before their wedding.
The couple, Yoshitaka, 40, and his 65-year-old wife, Aki, have 18,000 followers on YouTube.
They met at a Japanese-style bar, run by Aki, according to Bunshun Online, a Japanese media outlet.
At that point, Yoshitaka was divorced and, deeply attracted by her mature charm, fell in love with Aki at first sight.
Yoshitaka told Bunshun Online: “After talking with her, I found that we both had experienced failed marriages, were raising children alone, and we also shared many common interests.”
The pair soon fell in love and became a couple, but Aki was always anxious about the relationship.
Aki said it was because at that time she had always claimed to be 44. She feared that if he knew her true age she would lose him.
Thanks to her cheerful disposition and good skincare routine, she maintained a beautiful appearance. Yoshitaka believed there was only a 15-year age gap, but in fact, the love of his life was 25 years older.
Aki had tried many times to create opportunities for her boyfriend to discover her true age: “I left my passport and insurance card on the table, hoping he would notice,” she said.
But Yoshitaka just always gently reminded her to put her documents away safely, ignoring her hints.
After seven years together they decided to get married and Aki revealed her true age to her boyfriend before the wedding.
Although initially surprised, Yoshitaka said: “I don’t mind your real age at all, it doesn’t matter. What matters is why you didn’t tell me earlier so you wouldn’t have to worry for so long.”
After marrying they quit their jobs and travelled around Japan, according to Bunshun Online.
Now, they run an online air conditioner cleaning service store and share daily stories on YouTube.
Aki believes that Japanese society remains prejudiced against couples where the woman is significantly older.
“Older men can proudly show off how young and beautiful their wives are, but many women who are older than their husbands often hesitate to reveal their relationships to others.”
She concluded that true love is the most important thing, saying: “We should accept various forms of couples.”
Their story has captivated social media.
One online observer wrote: “Love can make people ignore the age gap. I wish them happiness.”
“Aki is older than my mum, but she looks even younger than me,” said another.
