Hiroyuki and Isumi form new Japanese regional party amid wife's protest

Internet entrepreneur Hiroyuki Nishimura (commonly known as "Hiroyuki") and former Akashi mayor Isumi Fuso announced the creation of a regional political party, tentatively called the "Hiroyuki & Isumi New Party," on July 20. The party filed its establishment paperwork with the Tokyo Election Management Commission on July 27 and plans to field candidates in the 2027 unified local elections across multiple prefectures, including Tokyo wards, Hokkaido, Kanagawa, Osaka, and Tottori, among others.

The launch has sparked controversy within Hiroyuki's family. His wife, web designer Yuka Nishimura, posted on X that she had not been consulted and described the move as a "trick," demanding prior family consent. She criticized the decision, noting that proceeding without her knowledge undermines credibility. The couple's five‑step rollout plan includes finalising policy proposals, revealing the official party name, recruiting candidates—including potential well‑known personalities—and aiming for a parliamentary run in the subsequent upper‑house election.

The development highlights a high‑profile attempt to translate online popularity into political influence, while also exposing internal family tensions surrounding the venture.