SHIZUOKA (TR) – The House of Representatives ballot is a bit more than per week away. As such, candidates are looking for help from constituents — and tabloids are digging grime.
On the morning of January 29, Fukako Kitanoya, a brand new candidate from the Democratic Party for the People (DPFP), took the microphone at a significant intersection within the Shizuoka seventh District in Hamamatsu City.
“In the 7th District, we face a huge wall: a sitting minister,” mentioned 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 instances on this district. Meanwhile, Kitanoya is advocating the DPFP’s signature insurance policies of lowering taxes and different burdens and rising take-home pay.
But then there are the rumors circulating about her participating in a relationship with married man. And this may not be the primary time for Kitanoya, reviews the net website for weekly tabloid Friday.
A reporter for the journal approached Kitanoya after her speech and talked about a photograph displaying her strolling with the unnamed man, who’s married with kids.
When requested whether or not the connection has prolonged for about 4 years, Kitanoya denied that individual declare however didn’t say they weren’t acquainted.
“Pressed against him”
After graduating from a business highschool in Hamamatsu City, Kitanoya was chosen as “Miss Hamakita,” a pageant to advertise native tourism. After working as a cell phone salesperson and different 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,” an area 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 identical yr, the Shizuoka Prefectural Chapter of the DPP chosen her because the department chief for the seventh district.
Kitanoya is divorced. Her surname is that of her former husband. She has continued to function a metropolis council member whereas elevating one little one.
Around 2022, she is believed to have met her obvious boyfriend when she joined the native Junior Chamber (JC), a gathering of younger enterprise leaders that promotes mutual alternate and group contribution actions.
An acquaintance of the person says that he runs a portray enterprise alongside along with his spouse. They have 4 kids.
Street in Kyoto
Another photograph of Kitanoya and the thriller man reveals them posing collectively on a avenue 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 identical 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 journal has one other photograph that seems to be from a visit the couple made to Okinawa. In it, the 2 are seen sitting on a gazebo-style bench in wetsuits, with Kitanoya making a peace signal along with her left hand.
Furthermore, exchanges between the 2 on the chat app Line appear to solidify that they’re concerned.
Second time round
Kitanoya appears to be interested in married males. After ending a relationship with the president of an architectural agency within the prefecture, she paid compensation to his spouse.
When requested by Friday about her relationship with the architect, she mentioned, “Well, that did happen once, and it’s true. We properly settled it with a lawyer.”
Kitanoya additionally confirmed the compensation fee 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 mentioned.
Even taking into account the previous affair?
“Yes,” she confirmed.
The journal then identified that Yuichiro Tamaki, the DPFP chief and Shimba have had their affairs with girls written about in weekly magazines up to now.
“Stop putting it like that,” she mentioned whereas guffawing. “Well, even so, I’m grateful to this party for giving me this opportunity.”
When pressed once more about her present relationship, she once more didn’t deny that she will not be acquainted along with her obvious boyfriend.
When Friday requested Kitanoya’s workplace for a remark about her relationships current and previous, they acquired the next 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 referred to as her obvious boyfriend a number of instances to ask about Kitanoya, however he didn’t reply.
The DPFP made exceptional progress within the 2024 basic election and the 2025 House of Councillors election. On February 8, voters could have their likelihood to resolve whether or not Kitanoya will contribute to the occasion’s current success or not.