Shinji Ishimaru Sparks New Party Formation Rumors After Meeting Industry Big Shot at Tsukishima Izakaya

Shinji Ishimaru (41) continues to gain attention even after the Tokyo gubernatorial election.

Interactions involving sociologist Kenju Furuichi (39) during Nippon TV’s election special program drew attention on social media, being dubbed “Ishimaru syntax.” Rumors of a “new party formation” are swirling around Nagatacho, keeping Ishimaru in the spotlight. Every move he makes continues to attract media attention, making him the man of the moment.

In his extremely busy schedule, FRIDAY Digital caught a glimpse of his precious off-duty appearance.

In mid-July, shortly after the election, Ishimaru appeared in Tsukishima, Tokyo, an area famous for its monjayaki restaurants. The person he left the izakaya with was someone he felt comfortable with, possibly someone he met inside the establishment.

“It’s Hiroki Takahashi (43), a former TV Tokyo producer who now runs the video media ‘ReHacQ.’ That night, Ishimaru was scheduled to appear on ‘ReHacQ.’ For him, who had been facing online backlash, it was crucial to seize this opportunity for a comeback. The choice of an izakaya for their meeting place before the live broadcast indicates the close relationship between the two.

In fact, the relationship between Ishimaru and Takahashi is very deep. Takahashi went out of his way to interview Ishimaru when he was still an unknown mayor of Akitakata City, highlighting his achievements. Ishimaru has publicly stated, ‘It was Takahashi who discovered me,’ showing the significant level of trust between them. Most likely, during this meeting, they were discussing future developments and strategies. Their relationship goes beyond mere work colleagues,” said a commercial TV producer.

After spending about an hour at the izakaya, Ishimaru and Takahashi got into a taxi together and headed to the recording site. The sight of the two leaving the place with smiles was quite impressive.

As the broadcast began, Yusuke Narita (39), an assistant professor and economist from Yale University, and Takashi Tachibana (56), the leader of the political group “NHK Party,” made impromptu appearances. Furthermore, general viewers kept joining in, creating a chaotic situation reminiscent of the early dys of “Nico Nico Live Broadcast.” However, Ishimaru seemed to remain relaxed throughout, as if he were in his comfort zone.

During the program, Takahashi asked Ishimaru about his conversational approach, which had been a topic of discussion on social media, “Your responses seemed quite strict. What was your intention?” Ishimaru explained, “As a basic communication technique, I mirror. I respond to goodwill with goodwill, and to hostility with hostility.” He further elaborated, “I respond appropriately to sloppy questions. If I answer sloppily, it becomes a mess, so it needs to be organized. When someone has done serious research, I provide answers that match that level of effort.”

The live broadcast, which lasted over five hours, continued past 2 a.m., surpassing 150,000 concurrent viewers. In a relaxed atmosphere, with sushi and drinks, Ishimaru’s reputation significantly improved. The broadcast exceeded 3 million total views, and comments such as “I’ve reevaluated Ishimaru,” “I didn’t realize he was such a soft person,” and “Truly a legendary episode!” were left in the comment section. Judging by these results, it can be said that Ishimaru and Takahashi’s strategy was a resounding success.

Is he a formidable monster, or just a lively entertainer? No one can take their eyes off his next move.