Japanese volleyball star Ran Takahashi caused a stir when the press caught him spending time with adult film star Saika Kawakita.
Despite his flourishing career, Ran Takahashi, the main attacker of Japan’s national volleyball team, has been caught in a scandal following an investigation by Bunshun Online published on October 21st.
According to the report, the 24-year-old athlete was seen spending nights with two different women on consecutive days, one of whom was adult film actress Saika Kawakita.
After a friendly match between Japan and Bulgaria on the night of September 3rd, instead of returning with his team, Takahashi took a taxi to the Roppongi area in Tokyo. Reporters captured him meeting Kawakita – a well-known adult film star recognized for her innocent appearance.
The two stayed together in a karaoke room until early morning before heading to a luxury hotel. Six days later, Takahashi joined the Japanese team at the World Championship in the Philippines but was eliminated early, with his personal performance noticeably declining.
Less than two weeks after returning, Takahashi booked a room at the same hotel again. That evening, he met Kawakita once more. What shocked the public even more was that the very next night, he returned with a woman named Uka, 26, an influencer with over 150,000 Instagram followers. According to close sources, Uka is Takahashi’s official girlfriend.
The incident quickly became a hot topic on Japanese social media. Many fans expressed disappointment, fearing that the personal scandal could severely damage the image of Japan’s men’s volleyball team, which has gained popularity largely due to Takahashi’s appeal.
Born in 2001, Ran Takahashi stands 1.90 meters tall and currently has over 2.7 million followers on Instagram. He was voted “Best Outside Hitter” at the 2025 AVC Champions League.
Facing a wave of criticism, Takahashi’s management company stated they do not interfere with the player’s private life. However, Japanese media believe the incident could seriously harm the 2001-born star’s reputation, potentially impacting his future career and endorsement deals.