Close to the “Don of the Liberal Democratic Party”

A general election fought in the dead of winter. On the morning of January 29, in Shizuoka’s 7th district (covering parts of Hamamatsu City and stretching from the area around Lake Hamana in the far west of Shizuoka Prefecture to mountainous regions), Tomiko Kitanoya (41), a first-time candidate for the Democratic Party for the People, took the microphone at a major roadside intersection.

“In District 7, there is a huge, huge wall—an incumbent cabinet minister. But the wall I’m fighting isn’t the minister’s wall. I’m fighting the enormous burdens that threaten people’s daily lives (omitted). I want all of you to lend Tomiko Kitanoya the strength to fight that wall.”

While clearly keeping in mind Minoru Kiuchi (60), the LDP’s Growth Strategy Minister and a seven-term winner in the district, Kitanoya appealed for the party’s signature policy: reducing burdens such as taxes and increasing take-home pay. Meanwhile, for at least a year, a certain rumor about her had been whispered among political insiders in the prefecture.

After she finished her first street speech of the day, we asked her directly about the truth.

—Ms. Kitanoya, this is FRIDAY.
“Ah, yes.”

—We heard you’re having an affair with Mr. A.
“(smiling) Ah…”

—What are the facts?
“No, I’m not. But it seems someone took a photo. From behind.”

—A photo of you walking together with Mr. A?
“Yes, yes, yes. That was also taken while we were on our way to a Junior Chamber gathering.”

—And because photos like that circulated, the affair rumors spread?
“Yes. And I haven’t exactly denied it publicly either. If someone asks me officially like this, I’ll answer. But I haven’t formally announced anywhere, like, ‘We are not in that kind of relationship.’ So… I’ve kind of just left it as it is.”

—We heard you’ve been in a relationship for about four years and that it’s still ongoing. Is that untrue?
“That’s completely untrue. Absolutely not.”

Kitanoya flatly denied the affair allegations that had surfaced around her. This magazine also obtained the photo believed to be the source of the rumors, but it alone does not prove an affair. However, as the reporting continued, new photos and evidence emerged that made it difficult to take her explanation at face value—.

After graduating from a commercial high school in Hamamatsu, Kitanoya was chosen as “Miss Hamakita,” a role promoting local tourism. After working as a mobile phone sales clerk and other jobs, she was first elected to the Hamamatsu City Council in 2015.

“Kitanoya continued serving as a city council member right up until January 20, just before this general election was officially announced. As a council member, she gave the impression of being bright and proactive, but there were also things she said and did that made people frown. At a social gathering among council members, many of those present witnessed her sitting together on the chair of an ‘LDP kingpin,’ pressing her body closely against him.

During the 2024 general election period, she skipped city council sessions citing poor health, but it was discovered that on the very same day she went to deliver a support speech for a Constitutional Democratic Party candidate, and she had to go around apologizing to various parties involved.” (Local newspaper political desk reporter)

Kitanoya joined the Democratic Party for the People in February 2025. In March of that year, the party’s Shizuoka Prefectural Federation selected her as the District 7 branch chief (the party’s general election candidate), but it is said she had caused trouble even shortly before this as well.

The LINE exchanges between the two. Mr. A is on the right, and Ms. Kitanoya is on the left. The messages suggest a considerably intimate relationship.

“I want to see you so badly.”
“I really, really want to see you.”

“By January of that year, Ms. Kitanoya had already begun contacting relevant parties about running in the next general election from the Constitutional Democratic Party (at the time). The Constitutional Democratic Party also began moving in earnest to field her, and discussions had reached party headquarters. However, Ms. Kitanoya suddenly said, ‘I’ve changed my mind. I want to run from the Democratic Party for the People,’ effectively abandoning the Constitutional Democratic Party.” (Same source)

During this period, Kitanoya experienced marriage, childbirth, and divorce. The surname “Kitanoya” is said to be that of her former husband. While raising one child, she continued fulfilling her duties as a city council member.

Around 2022, she is believed to have met the aforementioned Mr. A after joining the local Junior Chamber (JC), a group of young business leaders engaged in networking and community service activities.

“Mr. A is a business owner who runs a painting company and held key positions such as director within the JC. On his company’s website, his wife is introduced as an office staff member. In her self-introduction, it says, ‘As a mother of three, I strive every day to balance childcare and work,’ but it appears the website hasn’t been updated, and they have since had a fourth child.” (An acquaintance of Mr. A)

What this magazine obtained is a two-shot photo that appears to have been taken in selfie style by Ms. Kitanoya and Mr. A, who is supposed to be a married man with children.

“The timing of the photo is unclear, but I’ve heard it was taken when the two traveled to Kyoto together. Mr. A also loves Okinawa and often dined with Ms. Kitanoya at an Okinawan restaurant called ‘Y’ in Hamamatsu City. There were even times when, shortly after taking his family on a trip to Okinawa and returning home, he went again to Okinawa—this time with Ms. Kitanoya.” (Same source)

This magazine has also obtained photos believed to be from the two’s trip to Okinawa. Perhaps after enjoying marine sports, the two—wearing wetsuits—are seated on a gazebo-style bench. Ms. Kitanoya flashes a peace sign with her left hand, while Mr. A makes a shaka (aloha) sign with his thumb and pinky raised.

Additionally, LINE message exchanges separately obtained between Ms. Kitanoya and Mr. A convey an intimacy that appears to go beyond JC activities.

Perhaps around the time their relationship began deepening, Ms. Kitanoya wrote, “Wow, today was a day when my feelings were really moved by you, A-kun,” followed by, “Both romantically and in terms of my feelings about JC (laughs).” Mr. A responded, “It was fun being with you for a long time, Fukko-san,” and asked, “Did your romantic feelings move?” To which Ms. Kitanoya replied, “Maybe I’ll try my best so that you’ll choose me, A-kun.” (Emojis omitted here and below.)

On another day, their mutual feelings appear to overlap even more clearly. When Mr. A murmured, “Ah, I want to see you,” Ms. Kitanoya replied, “I really, really want to see you,” and they exchanged matching emoji characters.

As mentioned at the outset, rumors of Kitanoya’s alleged affair had spread among some political insiders. For that reason, as of March 2025, the Democratic Party for the People—having decided to field her in the next general election—had also conducted interviews with her internally.

A party insider reveals:

“Ms. Kitanoya admitted to a past affair to the prefectural federation. However, she explained that the partner was not Mr. A. She said there had been misconduct with Mr. B, the head of an architectural firm in the prefecture, and that she had settled the matter by paying compensation to Mr. B’s wife and ending the relationship.

This was known to Secretary-General Katsuya Shimba (elected from the Shizuoka at-large district in the House of Councillors) at party headquarters, and he even seemed to evaluate her positively, saying, ‘She spoke honestly.’”

According to testimony from multiple Democratic Party for the People sources, while Ms. Kitanoya claims that her past affair with Mr. B has been resolved, she firmly denies any relationship with Mr. A.

A photo from the 2024 Hamana Lake Junior Chamber “graduation ceremony.” Ms. Kitanoya is dressed in a “JK (schoolgirl) outfit,” and Mr. A can be seen in the center (image taken from Ms. Kitanoya’s Instagram).

“Properly include lawyers, and settle the case.”

Rengo Shizuoka, a labor union federation that supports the Democratic Party for the People and other groups, has endorsed Ms. Kitanoya in this general election. Before offering its endorsement, Rengo Shizuoka also conducted its own interview with her.

“Rengo Shizuoka still has trauma from five years ago, when then–House of Councillors member Shinnosuke Yamazaki of the Democratic Party for the People was hit with an affair scandal after receiving its endorsement in a by-election. So they were reportedly quite sensitive about the rumors surrounding Ms. Kitanoya. However, she explained that ‘the (affair) has already been settled. Since then, I have had no romantic issues,’ and reportedly pushed through confidently, even saying, ‘It’s fine if it appears in a weekly magazine. I’ve already factored that in.’” (Rengo Shizuoka official)

During the direct questioning of Ms. Kitanoya on January 29, we also asked her about the alleged affair with Mr. B.

—There are also reports of an affair with Mr. B.
“Yes, that did happen once. But we properly involved lawyers and reached a settlement.”

—You paid compensation?
“Yes, yes. That was done formally.”

—So there was a mistake once.
“Yes. And after properly informing Secretary-General Shimba, even so, how should I put it… I was officially endorsed this time.”

—Mr. Shimba understood about the past affair.
“Yes.”

—Mr. Tamaki (Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People) and Mr. Shimba have also had female-related scandals reported in weekly magazines. In your party, everyone seems to have some skeletons in the closet…
“Please don’t put it that way (laughs). Still, I’m grateful to this party for giving me such an opportunity.”

—To confirm again, there is no romantic relationship with Mr. A?
“That’s right. You’re welcome to follow me if you’d like (laughs).”

—Can you properly explain this to voters if asked?
“Yes.”

When this magazine sent written inquiries to the Kitanoya office regarding her relationships with Mr. A and Mr. B, the following response was received:

“These matters concern the privacy of Ms. Kitanoya and third parties, and there is a possibility that third parties could be inconvenienced by her response. Therefore, we cannot answer your questions.”

We also called Mr. A’s mobile phone several times to ask about his relationship with Ms. Kitanoya, but there was no response.

The Democratic Party for the People, which campaigns on a policy of increasing take-home pay, has shown strong momentum in the 2024 general election and the 2025 House of Councillors election. Ms. Kitanoya also appears conscious of this trend and is said to have told those around her that there is a chance of being revived through proportional representation in this election.

It will ultimately be up to the voters to decide whether she is fit to take on a role in national politics.

Reporting and text by Naoyuki Miyashita (nonfiction writer)

Close to the “Don of the Liberal Democratic Party”

“I want to see you so badly.” “I really, really want to see you.”

“Properly include lawyers, and settle the case.”

“I want to see you so badly.”
“I really, really want to see you.”

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