Ayumi Ishida’s Untold Struggles with Shoken’s Divorce Papers and Memories of Tora-san

“If there were ten things I loved, almost all of them would be acting.”

They met through a drama they co-starred in, which led to a romantic relationship and eventually a passionate marriage. However, they divorced after about four years, likely due to Shōken’s unstable lifestyle.

Their married life was constantly overshadowed by Shōken’s scandals—he succumbed to alcohol, was arrested for illegal possession of marijuana, and even caused a personal injury accident due to drunk driving.

Ishida even witnessed the police raid herself. Their life together ended when Shōken was arrested for professional negligence resulting in injury.

At the divorce press conference, which she held alone, Ishida did not blame her ex-husband. Instead, she said:

“I neglected my household, making me an unfit wife. He was the ideal husband. No matter how many people called him a fool, he was my husband, and I would never abandon him.”

There is an anecdote about their divorce: even though they had filled out the divorce papers together, Ishida kept them with her and did not submit them to the ward office for a long time. She once said:

“I was truly loved.”

Perhaps that was how she genuinely felt.

Then came the Otoko wa Tsurai yo filming in Enoshima. “Tora-san” Atsumi Kiyoshi, who was in poor health, had a bed brought onto the set so he could participate in the shoot. Seeing this, Ishida was astonished.

“He truly was a great star. The intensity and passion that Atsumi-san poured into his work were overwhelming.”

This behind-the-scenes story of Atsumi bringing a bed to the filming location never became public. Perhaps their shared dedication to their work was something they both deeply understood.

“If there were ten things I loved, almost all of them would be acting. Acting isn’t me, after all. I can be anything I want—an adulteress, a criminal—whatever I like. That’s what makes it so rewarding.”

Ishida shared these words with me.

Her farewell gathering will not be held, as per her wishes.

Ah, yet another great actress has left this world with deepest respect.