[Scoop!] Former “Road to Recovery” Representative Shinji Ishimaru Caught “Spending the Night” with a Beautiful Woman with Long Hair

Just when his private life was in the spotlight due to his appearance on “Love Reality”…

“We have to start by defining what love actually is.”

These were the words spoken by Shinji Ishimaru (44) on the dating reality show “Love Hospital” (ABEMA). Perhaps his tendency to overanalyze things got in the way, as he was unable to find a partner on the show; however, he is a sharp-witted man who served as a prefectural governor in his 30s. In real life, he was steadily getting closer to a beautiful woman.

On August 30, the “Hiroshima Kagura Tokyo Special Performance,” for which Ishimaru serves as ambassador, was held at the Sogetsu Hall in Akasaka, Tokyo.After the performance, the group emerged from the after-party venue, where they had been celebrating with staff, around 11:00 p.m. Right beside Mr. Ishimaru was a long-haired beauty who bore a striking resemblance to First Summer Uika, standing close by his side. Mr. Ishimaru, chatting with her, looked happier than I’d ever seen him.

Later, as staff saw them off, he naturally got into a taxi with the woman, and they headed for a designer apartment building in Tokyo. Upon getting out of the taxi, the two walked straight into the building’s entrance.

“She is Ms. A, a former administrative staff member of the political group ‘The Path to Renewal,’ of which Mr. Ishimaru was the representative.She had been handling the party’s public relations and other duties since before the House of Councillors election last July. She’s a cheerful and kind-hearted person, and since she’s in her late 30s—close in age to Mr. Ishimaru—they seemed to hit it off. Since Mr. Ishimaru stepped down as the group’s representative last September, she has been serving as his personal secretary,” said a source within the “Path to Regeneration” party.

The apartment building the two entered appears to be the place Mr. Ishimaru uses as his office and base of operations in Tokyo. It features a spacious bedroom and a stylish interior where most of the lighting consists of indirect lighting. That night, even after the last train had passed, the two did not emerge from the apartment.

“Ms. A lives in Tokyo, but she went out of her way to spend the night at Mr. Ishimaru’s base. It seems they had stayed at that apartment the night before as well. It’s clear that their relationship goes beyond that of a secretary and a politician.In *Love Hospital*, Mr. Ishimaru confided, ‘I don’t think I want children of my own, but I’d like to try raising a child.’ Since Ms. A is a single mother, he may have made that remark with her in mind,” said an acquaintance of Mr. Ishimaru.

Ms. A left the apartment around noon the day after their overnight stay.

Is Ms. A the girlfriend Mr. Ishimaru has finally found? When this magazine sent Mr. Ishimaru a letter of inquiry regarding whether the two had spent the night alone together and whether Ms. A is his girlfriend, we received the following response.

“First, could you please explain to me what you mean by ‘girlfriend’?”

Following this opening remark—typical of Mr. Ishimaru—he continued:

“She is someone I have a professional relationship with and is one of the people I trust,”

—a response that did not deny the existence of a “relationship.”

With the support of Ms. A, whom he trusts, will the day come when Mr. Ishimaru returns to the political spotlight?

The September 25 issue of *FRIDAY*, on sale September 10, and the paid version *FRIDAY GOLD* feature detailed coverage of the Fukuoka mayoral election, which Mr. Ishimaru is aiming to run in, as well as his own comments.

Click here to view the full article and multiple photos ↓↓

From the September 25, 2026 issue of “FRIDAY”