Japanese actress Shuhama Harumi, 51, announces marriage — husband changed his surname for her

Japanese film actress Shuhama Harumi announced her marriage at 51, confirming she and her husband completed their marriage registration at the end of last year.

Harumi — known for Camera Must Not Stop!, Popuran: Finding the Missing X, and the drama Male Housekeeper Mitazo Season 3 — had registered with a marriage consultation service at the end of last year, roughly six months before going public with the news. Her husband is the representative of a video production company.

"Life is really unpredictable," she said. "I did not know that I would register with a marriage consultation service in my 50s and announce my marriage six months later."

Harumi, who had been married previously, said she had not wanted to change her surname. This relationship felt different. "With this person I was not afraid of anything. It seems we can go together all the way. We decided to live in the form of marriage registration rather than common-law marriage."

Her husband chose to change his own name to Juhama (주하마), adopting a form of her surname. He "wanted to reduce gender-based disadvantages even slightly," Harumi explained.

She was clear the couple's choice carries no broader agenda: "Our couple is just one form. It is not a criticism of anything or politically motivated."

(Her words on finally finding the right person: "I seem to be lucky. I met such a good person that I want to spend my life smiling beside them.")