Matsumoto Jun and Inoue Mao to Announce Engagement?

I was supposed to make a rumor digest before I continue with my GnS recap until I saw 3 posts about this never-dying issue. Since the end of Hana Yori Dango, rumors that the two are dating have forever circulated. Since Arashi will be hosting Kohaku (again!) and Mao will be in next year’s taiga aside from being one of the judges in Kohaku, rumors has it that the two will be announcing their engagement in Kohaku. Mere speculations or is there a bit of truth from it all?

As reported,

(c)kohaku

Viewing tickets for the upcoming 65th Kohaku Uta Gassen has sold like hotcakes in prices reaching up to 300,000 Yen in auction sites. The reason: engagement announcement between Matsumoto Jun and Inoue Mao. NHK thinks that it’s a blessing from heaven that aside from Arashi as this year’s host, Mao will start her year-long taiga drama in “Hana Moyu“. The engagement will definitely create a positive effect before “Hana Moyu” starts on Jan 4th. After the engagement, the wedding is likely to happened on September next year once Mao is finished with the drama’s filming.

(c)NHK

The two has been rumored to be dating for nine years after “Hana Yori Dango”, there were photos of them dating but most magazines were pressured by Johnny’s not to release them. Matsumoto was also linked to other actresses like Nakama Yukie and  Shibasaki Kou but Mao has always been the favorite. More fans started believing rumors after the two were reported to had attended Oguri Shun and Yamada Yu’s wedding and that they were seen wearing matching “Boucheron” rings.

In Johnny’s side, they want a more dignified announcement of Matsumoto and Mao’s engagement. They don’t want another Kimura Takuya and Kudo Shizuka moment so it’s likely that they will announce the engagement before the year ends.

via Johnny’s-Watcher 1 and 2

(c)thelookoflove18

I don’t want to write it off that the two are not in a relationship because I’m also shipping these two. I mean, they even appeared in one magazine back 1999 when they barely knew each other. It’s fate, it’s definitely fate. haha. However, if you think about the timing of an engagement, it’s obviously done to rack up ratings for Kohaku and Hana Moyu.