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Nogizaka46's Sayuri Matsumura Apologizes for Kissing Married Man

Sayuri Matsumura, a member of the massive idol group Nogizaka46, appeared on the radio show Recomen! on October 8 to apologize for dating a married man. "Even I can't believe what a stupid thing I did," she confessed. "I'm really sorry." She also claimed that she "didn't know much" about the man and didn't realize that they were committing adultery. The couple met when she was walking outside stressing and he flirted with her. "Normally it wouldn't have worked, but we went out for a meal," she explained.

Matsumura spoke for over 30 minutes about her transgression, although she often was at a loss for words. Nogizaka46, like its rival group, AKB48, maintains a strict abstinence policy. Accordingly, Matsumura apologized to her fans. "There's no excuse for how much of an idiot I was being." Rina Ikoma, a fellow Nogizaka member, also chipped in. "We appear together and compare ourselves. But we're here to support each other. She's such a dummy!!"

Matsumura's date was a former editor at Weekly Young Jump magazine in his early 30s. (Matsumura is 22.) He has worked on titles like Hana-to Shura, Usogui and Bakumatsu Gurentai. He seems to have a way with women, as a female artist he worked with says that "when he seduces women, it's like he brainwashes them with his logic. He's the type to make their eyelids droop with his words."

The story broke in Shuukan Bunshun magazine, where the above photograph of the couple hugging and kissing on the street in front of Matsumura's condo was published. The magazine claims that they dated at least three times in three weeks, including a 4-hour-plus visit to a high-class karaoke room.

[Via Daily Sports Gossip and News Matomemory; Images from Nogizaka46 Sokuhou and Shuukan Bunshun Web]