A JYP Entertainment girl group member is rumored to be dating a popular Japanese band member nine years her senior.

According to reports from Japanese outlets Shukan Bunshun and FRIDAY on November 4, NiziU’s Nina (born in 2005) is allegedly in a relationship with Mrs. GREEN APPLE guitarist Wakai Hiroto (born in 1996). The two have a nine-year age gap.

The reports claimed that Nina was spotted visiting Wakai’s residence recently for a late-night date. The outlets further stated that Wakai had been a fan of Nina since her appearance on JYP’s global audition program Nizi Project, and that they became acquainted through Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s frontman and producer, Omori Motoki.

According to Shukan Bunshun, after Mrs. GREEN APPLE finished their concert at the Sapporo Dome on November 3, Wakai returned home around 3:30 PM. About five hours later, at 8:30 PM, Nina was seen entering the building where Wakai lives.

Photos published by the outlets showed Nina wearing a hat and mask, entering Wakai’s residence discreetly.

The two are said to have connected through music as well. Omori Motoki previously wrote and composed NiziU’s song “Always,” which reportedly led to interactions between the two groups. Wakai is also said to have shown interest in Nina both on and off air.

Citing a source close to the band, Shukan Bunshun reported, “Omori Motoki exchanged contact information with NiziU’s team, which naturally led to further interactions, and through that, Wakai and Nina grew closer.”

Wakai had previously drawn attention in March over dating rumors with gravure idol Mira Ichikawa.

Following the recent reports, Wakai’s agency, Project-MGA, stated, “While there are some inaccuracies in the reports, it concerns the artist’s private life. We will continue to communicate closely with our artists and manage them accordingly.”

Meanwhile, JYP Entertainment told Korean outlets News1 and Ilgan Sports, “The two are simply acquaintances with a senior-junior relationship. The dating rumors are not true.”

NiziU is a nine-member Japanese girl group formed through the joint JYP Entertainment and Sony Music audition program Nizi Project. They debuted in Japan in 2020 with their mini album Make You Happy and officially debuted in Korea in October 2023 with their Korean-language album Press Play.

Mrs. GREEN APPLE is a three-member Japanese band formed in 2013, known for multiple hit songs such as “Inferno,” “Ao to Natsu” (“Blue and Summer”), and “Lilac,” establishing themselves as one of Japan’s leading pop-rock acts.