Kei Mukai confirms relationship with TBS announcer Yuko Wakabayashi

Kei Mukai, a member of the comedy trio Panther, has publicly confirmed his romantic relationship with TBS announcer Yuko Wakabayashi. The confirmation occurred during a live broadcast of the program ‘King’s Brunch’ on September 19.

The announcement follows reports from FRIDAY Digital regarding the pair’s relationship and living situation. During the broadcast, Mukai addressed the rumors directly, stating, “It is a very serious romantic relationship. It’s not just... it’s very serious,” which drew applause from the studio.

Mukai and Wakabayashi have worked together on various TBS programs, including ‘King’s Brunch’ and its late-night counterpart, ‘Yoru no Brunch.’ Prior to the official confirmation, social media speculation had incorrectly linked Wakabayashi to comedian Kazuya Shimasa of the duo New York, a rumor Wakabayashi had previously denied.