Tanaka Kei is attracting attention for his unexpected new activities following the controversy surrounding his alleged relationship with actress Nagano Mei.
According to recent Japanese media reports, including Sports Hochi, the actor has been actively participating in international poker tournaments over the past year and has achieved surprisingly strong results.
On May 5, Tanaka Kei would compete in the Aussie Millions international poker tournament held in Melbourne, Australia.
He participated in the “25K Challenge NLHE” event and ultimately finished in 7th place after advancing to the final table with aggressive gameplay.
Reports claim that the actor earned around 111,720 Australian dollars (around 118 million KRW or $76,000 USD) as prize money from the tournament.
The outcome quickly became a hot topic online, especially as Tanaka Kei remained largely absent from entertainment activities following last year’s scandal.
This was reportedly not an isolated finding.
Japanese media said Tanaka Kei has consistently participated in major poker competitions over the past year. In July last year, he reportedly placed 3rd out of 1,935 participants in the prestigious World Series of Poker held in Las Vegas. This achievement would have earned him approximately 17 million yen in prize money.
Reports further stated that he would later participate in European tournaments and amass nearly 20 million yen (approximately $130,000 USD) in a two-month period.
Although Tanaka Kei’s poker activities appear to be successful, his acting career remains heavily affected by the controversy involving Nagano Mei.
The actor was embroiled in a scandal in April last year after rumors emerged of an alleged affair with the actress, who is 15 years his junior.
The controversy intensified after the media published photos of the couple together, including selfies and reports of alleged late-night visits between their homes.
Tanaka Kei denied the affair allegations at the time.
“Being a person with a wife and children, I did not have an adulterous relationship with Nagano,” he was quoted as saying.
Despite his denial, the scandal significantly damaged his public image, with multiple stage appearances and advertising contracts later being cancelled.
Recently, Tanaka Kei was reportedly spotted attending a show involving actor Oguri Shun, who is also the head of his agency. However, public opinion surrounding the actor reportedly remains cold.
Some online users have commented on noticeable changes in her appearance, with reactions such as: “She looks like she has gained weight compared to before.”
Born in 1984, Tanaka Kei rose to fame through numerous popular Japanese dramas including Gokusen, Water Boys, Crying Out Love in the Center of the World and the Doctor-X series.
Sources: Herald Economy, Sports Hochi
