SHIZUOKA (TR) – The House of Representatives poll is a little more than a week away. As such, candidates are seeking support from constituents — and tabloids are digging dirt.
On the morning of January 29, Fukako Kitanoya, a new candidate from the Democratic Party for the People (DPFP), took the microphone at a major intersection in the Shizuoka 7th District in Hamamatsu City.
“In the 7th District, we face a huge wall: a sitting minister,” said the 41-year-old Kitanoya. “However, what I’m fighting isn’t the minister’s wall. I’m fighting against a huge burden that threatens the lives of the people. I ask everyone to share their strength in fighting this wall with Fukuko Kitanoya.”
Minoru Kiuchi, the Liberal Democratic Party’s Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy, has been elected seven times in this district. Meanwhile, Kitanoya is advocating the DPFP’s signature policies of reducing taxes and other burdens and increasing take-home pay.
But then there are the rumors circulating about her engaging in a relationship with married man. And this would not be the first time for Kitanoya, reports the online site for weekly tabloid Friday.
A reporter for the magazine approached Kitanoya after her speech and mentioned a photo showing her walking with the unnamed man, who is married with children.
When asked whether the relationship has extended for about four years, Kitanoya denied that particular claim but did not say they were not acquainted.
“Pressed against him”
After graduating from a commercial high school in Hamamatsu City, Kitanoya was chosen as “Miss Hamakita,” a pageant to promote local tourism. After working as a mobile phone salesperson and other positions, she was first elected to the Hamamatsu City Council in 2015.
“Kitanoya continued serving as a city council member until January 20, just before the general election was announced,” a local reporter says. “While she appeared cheerful and proactive as a city council member, she also displayed some eyebrow-raising behavior. At a social gathering with fellow city council members, she was spotted by many council members sitting next to a Liberal Democratic Party leader and pressed against him.”
Kitanoya joined the DPP in February 2025. In March of the same year, the Shizuoka Prefectural Chapter of the DPP selected her as the branch chief for the 7th district.
Kitanoya is divorced. Her surname is that of her former husband. She has continued to serve as a city council member while raising one child.
Around 2022, she is believed to have met her apparent boyfriend when she joined the local Junior Chamber (JC), a gathering of young business leaders that promotes mutual exchange and community contribution activities.
An acquaintance of the man says that he runs a painting business along with his wife. They have four children.
Street in Kyoto
Another photo of Kitanoya and the mystery man shows them posing together on a street in Kyoto City.
“The date of the photo is unknown, but we heard that this photo was taken when the two of them were traveling to Kyoto,” the same acquaintance says. “He loves Okinawa, and often dined with Kitanoua at an izakaya in Hamamatsu City, which serves Okinawan cuisine. Apparently, he would take his family on a trip to Okinawa, and shortly after returning home, he would immediately return there with Kitanoya.”
The magazine has another photo that appears to be from a trip the couple made to Okinawa. In it, the two are seen sitting on a gazebo-style bench in wetsuits, with Kitanoya making a peace sign with her left hand.
Furthermore, exchanges between the two on the chat app Line seem to solidify that they are involved.
Second time around
Kitanoya seems to be attracted to married men. After ending a relationship with the president of an architectural firm in the prefecture, she paid compensation to his wife.
When asked by Friday about her relationship with the architect, she said, “Well, that did happen once, and it’s true. We properly settled it with a lawyer.”
Kitanoya also confirmed the compensation payment was made and that Kazuya Shimba, the general-secretary of the DPP, endorses her.
“Yes. I explained this to secretary-general Shimba, and now, even though I’m like that, he’s, how should I put it, officially endorsed me, yes,” she said.
Even taking into consideration the past affair?
“Yes,” she confirmed.
The magazine then pointed out that Yuichiro Tamaki, the DPFP leader and Shimba have had their affairs with women written about in weekly magazines in the past.
“Stop putting it like that,” she said while giggling. “Well, even so, I’m grateful to this party for giving me this opportunity.”
When pressed again about her current relationship, she again did not deny that she is not acquainted with her apparent boyfriend.
When Friday asked Kitanoya’s office for a comment about her relationships present and past, they received the following response: “As this question concerns the privacy of Kitanoya and third parties, and Kitanoya’s own response may cause inconvenience to third parties, we are unable to answer the question.”
Friday’s reporter called her apparent boyfriend several times to ask about Kitanoya, but he did not answer.
The DPFP made remarkable progress in the 2024 general election and the 2025 House of Councillors election. On February 8, voters will have their chance to decide whether Kitanoya will contribute to the party’s recent success or not.
