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.