[All] [2026] Is Rikuryu's marriage real? The truth behind the happy speculation that spreads after his retirement announcement.

Are the rumors of Rikuryu (Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara) getting married true? After their surprise retirement announcement in April 2026, the topic of "they'll probably get married" became a hot topic on social media. This article provides a thorough explanation of their current relationship, retirement press conference, and post-retirement activities.

Is Rikuryu's marriage real? The truth behind the happy speculation that has spread since his retirement announcement.

Rikuryu is not married. There has been no public announcement of a relationship. However, since the sudden retirement announcement in April 2026, the topic of "Rikuryu getting married" has rapidly spread on social media and in various media outlets. Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, who won Japan's first-ever gold medal in pairs skating at the Milan-Cortina Olympics and ended their competitive careers, have a relationship that is said to go beyond that of "comrades in arms." Just how far has their relationship progressed?

table of contents

1. Why did the rumors about Rikuryu getting married spread?
2. Marriage and relationship status as of 2026
3. The bond between the two was evident at the retirement press conference.
4. Her traditional Japanese attire at the garden party on the day of her retirement became a topic of conversation.
5. Activities after retirement — We will continue together as a duo.
6. summary

1. Why did the rumor about Rikuryu getting married spread?

The reason why rumors of Riku and Ryu getting married spread is the overwhelming closeness they displayed during their competitions.

After their free skate performance at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, American media outlet Heavy reported on whether Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara were dating. The article stated, "Their emotional expressions both on and off the ice have attracted attention. Watching their performances, one can't help but wonder if they are dating or even married."

Even outside of competition, the closeness between the two was striking. In a December 2025 interview, they revealed that they had been living together in Canada, their base of operations, and Ryuichi Kihara joked that he was "Miura's caretaker." Furthermore, Kaori Sakamoto's comment that "those two are always having arguments like a married couple" further fueled rumors of Riku and Ryu getting married.

When Riku Miura posted a congratulatory message on social media for Ryuichi Kihara's birthday (August 22nd), it garnered around 5,000 comments and 120,000 likes, sparking much excitement among fans who speculated, "Is this a hint?"

After announcing their retirement on April 17, 2026, the phrase "We will take on new challenges together" triggered speculation on social media that they would get married. Tomizu Masa also revealed his true feelings, saying, "I actually thought they would announce they were getting married," indicating high public expectations.

2. Marriage and relationship status as of 2026

In conclusion, As of 2026, Rikuryu is not married. He has never publicly announced that he is in a relationship.

Riku Miura (24, from Hyogo Prefecture) and Ryuichi Kihara (33, from Aichi Prefecture) have a nine-year age difference and formed a pair in 2019. For seven years, they have lived together in Canada while continuing to compete. The intensity of their life together is the main reason why they are often said to "look like a married couple," but the two have only publicly stated that they are partners.

At their retirement press conference on April 28, there were no questions about their marriage or private lives, and neither of them has issued an official statement.

3. The bond between the two revealed at the retirement press conference

On April 28, 2026, a retirement press conference was held in Tokyo. Riku Miura, wearing a white jacket, and Ryuichi Kihara, wearing a gray suit, received bouquets of flowers on stage.

The moment Miura took the microphone and began his greeting with a smile, tears welled up in Kihara's eyes. Miura gently told her, "Don't cry," but the tears wouldn't stop. Kihara later said, "I was thinking about it even when I was in the waiting room, and the emotions were already there." The one-hour press conference became a moment that encapsulated the seven years the two had spent together.

Miura confessed, "From the beginning of this season, I've been skating with the feeling that I might retire." When he finished 5th in the short program, he said he even talked about "not being able to end it like this, maybe I should do it for another 4 years." However, in the free program, he felt that "we were able to believe in what we had built up and give it our all," and decided to retire after the Olympics. He revealed that he had also decided at that point to retire at the same time as he withdrew from the World Championships.

Kihara also said, "When the Olympics ended, I felt a sense of accomplishment," showing that she was content with ending her competitive career.

At the end of the press conference, as they were leaving the stage, Kihara naturally extended his hand to Miura, and the two were captured on camera walking down together, a moment that touched the hearts of fans. It has become a hot topic as a scene that symbolizes the relationship between Riku and Ryu.

4. Her traditional Japanese attire at the garden party on the day of her retirement became a topic of conversation.

On April 17, 2026, the same day he announced his retirement, Rikuryu attended the "Spring Garden Party" hosted by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress at the Akasaka Imperial Garden in Tokyo, dressed in traditional Japanese attire, attracting even more attention.

Kihara wore a light gray hakama, and Miura wore a light pink furisode kimono, and they calmly exchanged words with the Emperor and Empress. The kimonos of the two were coordinated by the team of the monthly lifestyle magazine "Katei Gaho," and Miura commented, "It's my first time wearing a pink kimono, so it felt very fresh. I think the embroidery is also very beautiful." Kihara smiled shyly and said, "We don't often wear kimonos together, so this was a wonderful experience. We're not used to wearing them, so we both looked like dolls."

Social media was flooded with comments such as, "You both look great together," and "You two look like one picture, as expected of Riku and Ryu." The dramatic day, with the retirement announcement and the photo of the two of them in traditional Japanese attire, has only fueled rumors of Riku and Ryu getting married.

5. Activities after retirement — We will continue together as a duo.

While there has been no announcement regarding Riku and Ryu's marriage, it has been officially confirmed that the two will continue to work together even after their retirement.

Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara announced on May 1st that they will be producing their own ice show this summer. Aimed at promoting pairs and ice dancing, the show will be held for three days from July 31st at the Tokyo Tatsumi Ice Arena and will be titled "THE DESTINY". Miura expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "In couples' competitions, meeting your partner is fate. I want to make this an ice show full of charm," while Kihara said, "I think you'll be able to feel the speed and power." They started planning it around March, and Miura laughed, saying, "Once we started talking about things we wanted to do together, we couldn't stop."

At the press conference, they also revealed plans for future coaching qualifications (expected to take 4-5 years) and the "Rikuryu Academy" concept. Even after retiring from competitive skating, Rikuryu will remain Rikuryu, and the two will continue their journey together.

summary

There has been no official announcement regarding Riku and Ryu's marriage at this time. However, their continued efforts to plan ice shows together after their retirement and their shared pursuit of coaching careers will undoubtedly continue to attract the attention of many people.

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