Caught on a Date! Shuhei Nomura and His New, 7-Years-Younger UNIQLO Model Girlfriend
The popular actor, who made a strong impression in the drama “Gas Human”—which topped the Japanese charts on Netflix—has a new girlfriend who’s even been approved by his dog
With a beautiful woman and his beloved dog
A handsome, well-built man strolling through a quiet residential neighborhood, firmly holding the leash of his border collie, Snoop, in his left hand and the hand of a beautiful woman in his right, was bound to attract attention.
On a day in July, the man radiating unmistakable celebrity aura—despite attempting to disguise himself with sunglasses—was actor Shuhei Nomura (32), recognizable by his striking features and well-trained physique. The beautiful woman walking beside him also stood out. Even beneath her oversized striped T-shirt, her impressive figure was apparent. She was clearly no ordinary passerby.
So who exactly was this pair, walking their dog hand in hand in broad daylight?
As it turns out, the woman is something of a familiar name among those in the fashion industry.
“She is Yumemi Ishida (26), a model who has appeared in advertising campaigns for global companies including Uniqlo, Shiseido, and the JR Group. Her height of 170 centimeters is one of her strengths, and recently she has also been receiving offers from South Korea and China, allowing her to work internationally,” says a stylist.
Nomura then took the internationally active model to a stylish café. While he went to buy coffee, Ishida waited at a terrace table and played with Snoop. Apparently, Nomura was not the only one completely smitten with her—whenever Ishida petted him on the head, Snoop wagged his tail with delight.
After taking a break at the café, the pair unexpectedly headed to a more down-to-earth destination: a local supermarket. Leaving Snoop waiting outside, they spent around 10 minutes browsing the store before emerging hand in hand once again and disappearing into the residential neighborhood.
“FRIDAY” had actually spotted Nomura and a woman believed to be Ishida enjoying a café date with his dog earlier this spring as well. Despite the lingering chill in the air, the two relaxed at a café with Snoop. It seems that a walk-and-café date may be something of a regular routine for the pair.
They were once senior and junior colleagues
Since the beginning of this year, Nomura has appeared in a number of high-profile productions. In the drama “Gas Man,”which began streaming on July 2 and reached No. 1 in Japan’s weekly viewing rankings, he delivered a memorable performance as the younger version of a former yakuza member with ties to both the mysterious “Gas Man” and the drama’s protagonist, a detective. With his long hair, shaved eyebrows, and body covered in tattoos, his striking appearance made a powerful impression.
In the summer-season drama “My Fiction,” airing on TV Asahi, he has also taken on the challenging role of a former murderer who stalks the protagonist, steadily building his reputation as an actor.
The two may work in different worlds—one as an actor, the other as a model—but they share an unexpected connection.
“Ishida actually made her debut through Nomura’s agency, Amuse. At the time, they had a senior-junior relationship. However, Ishida transferred to another agency two years ago in order to focus on her modeling career.
Nomura, meanwhile, has previously been linked by FRIDAY with Kiko Mizuhara (35), while his relationship with Ruka (28) has also been reported. He has a history of being romantically linked with popular models. Ishida, who has an equally outstanding figure, may well be exactly his type. Judging from how comfortable his dog is with her, it also seems possible that the two have been together for quite some time,” the same source says.
So, are the two actually dating?
When contacted by FRIDAY, Amuse replied, “They are in a good relationship.” Ishida’s agency likewise confirmed the relationship, saying, “They are in a good relationship. We leave their private lives to them, and we would appreciate it if you would watch over them warmly.”
With even Snoop apparently giving his seal of approval to the relationship, one cannot help but hope that a wonderful—or perhaps one-derful—future awaits the pair.
From the August 7 & 14, 2026, combined issue of “FRIDAY”