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SCMP’s Asia desk

Takato Ishida, the 36-year-old governor of Fukui, has sparked a fresh wave of online attention after new Instagram posts from his prefectural assembly revived the fascination that followed Ishida’s election earlier this year.
Many of the reactions have focused less on policy than on Japan’s youngest sitting prefectural leader, with social media users repeatedly praising his appearance and describing him as unusually “handsome” for a politician.
The attention first surged shortly after Ishida took office in January.
A greeting video posted on Instagram on February 1 drew more than 150,000 likes, with commenters flooding the post with admiring reactions.












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Among them were remarks such as “Fresh and appealing!” and “He’s so handsome I’m already in a mini panic,” according to comments highlighted by Japanese outlet J-CAST News.
The fascination resurfaced this week after Ishida shared new photos and updates from proceedings in the Fukui prefectural assembly and a special committee on harassment countermeasures on Monday.
Yet in Fukui itself – where Ishida came to power after his predecessor resigned over a sexual harassment scandal involving prefectural staff – the more pressing question is not his growing online following but whether he can restore public confidence in the local government.
Ishida, a former foreign ministry official whose career included postings in Washington, Zambia and Melbourne, took office in January after narrowly defeating rival Kenichi Yamada by 4,330 votes in a race that saw a low turnout, with just 46.29 per cent of voters casting ballots.
He assumed office in the shadow of the scandal that forced former governor Tatsuji Sugimoto to resign after an investigation found Sugimoto had repeatedly sent sexually harassing messages to prefectural employees.
At his inaugural press conference on January 29, Ishida pledged to address the issue directly.
“No form of harassment can ever be tolerated,” he told reporters, adding that his administration would “promote a more open workplace”.


The issue resurfaced again this month when Ishida appeared before a special committee reviewing accountability for the scandal.
Sugimoto had offered to return 15 million yen in retirement pay on the condition that no further voluntary repayments would be requested, according to local broadcaster Fukui TV.
Ishida told the committee: “There are various views about the figure of 15 million yen, but as a prefecture we will accept it as the final answer.”
As his public profile grows online, Ishida has acknowledged the unusual level of attention and the responsibilities that come with it.
“If that influence benefits the people of Fukui prefecture, I’m grateful for it,” he said at a February 19 press conference, referring to the reach of his social media presence and its potential to promote initiatives such as the Hokuriku Shinkansen project and the prefecture’s attractions.
“At the same time, I want to ensure thorough risk management,” he added. “I must always remember that any remarks I make are made in my capacity as governor, and while managing those risks carefully, I would like to make effective use of social media for the benefit of Fukui’s residents.”


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Fans of Takato Ishida continue to swoon over him, even as the Fukui governor has to deal with his predecessor’s sexual harassment scandal


Fans of Takato Ishida continue to swoon over him, even as the Fukui governor has to deal with his predecessor’s sexual harassment scandal.


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Japan’s ‘so handsome’ youngest governor, 36, sets social media abuzz again

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Fans of Takato Ishida continue to swoon over him, even as the Fukui governor has to deal with his predecessor’s sexual harassment scandal

Fans of Takato Ishida continue to swoon over him, even as the Fukui governor has to deal with his predecessor’s sexual harassment scandal