Ahead of the start of streaming for ABEMA's original romance show "Love Hospital" (6 episodes total) on April 2nd at 10pm, comments have arrived from former politician Shinji Ishimaru and others participating in the show.
"Love Hospital" is a dating show where adults who have become so engrossed in their work that they have forgotten about love confront their feelings for the first time. Ten men and women who have been active on the front lines of various fields such as politics, economics, and culture will live together for three days and two nights, confronting the love and themselves that they have left behind until now.
The male members participating in the program are former politician Shinji Ishimaru (43), actor Hideo Ishiguro (37), businessman Ryusei Kuwata (40), general director of "Reiwa no Tora", former J-League player and cooking researcher Hayato Koizumi (30), and freelance announcer Masakatsu Shizukuishi (32).
The female members include Akiko Kamiya (25), a current graduate student at the University of Tokyo and winner of Miss University of Tokyo 2020 and Miss Campus 2021 Grand Prix; Izumi Senma (33), a city council member of Nishitokyo City and former elementary school teacher; Airina Hirakawa (33), a company employee and talent and single mother; Natsuko Tatsumi (38), a former top talent; and Haruka Ikeda (30), a former auto mechanic who now runs a company that supports mechanics.
The studio observers will be Allen, Hiroyuki, Yoko Maki, and Tina Tamashiro.
◇Participant comments
Shinji Ishimaru
I was introduced to the show by a friend, but to put it simply, I had a bad feeling about it (laughs). I was listening to it thinking it was a joke, but halfway through I realized it was serious, and in the end I was won over by my friend's enthusiasm. I think love is an emotional thing. This is an attempt to artificially manipulate that. Please watch closely to see how it all ends.
- Hideo Ishiguro
I never imagined I'd be on the performing side, but I took on the challenge. It was a time to see how far I could go as "the real Hideo Ishiguro," not as an actor. I hope you enjoy it as entertainment, and that you get to see the real me.
・Ryusei Kuwata
I'd never participated in a dating show before, so I took on this as a new challenge. Looking back, I feel like everyone gathered here has something in common. I believe that love transcends titles and positions, and is about facing each other as completely human beings. I hope you enjoy the realistic love life of a 40-year-old businessman.
・Masakatsu Shizukuishi
Since there weren't any male announcers appearing on dating shows, I thought I could become the best announcer in Japan, so I decided to participate (laughs). It was interesting to see the unexpected emotions and actions that emerge when adults get serious about each other. No matter how capable an adult is at their job, when it comes to romance, they become like middle schoolers. I hope everyone will see that gap, and personally, I'd like you to pay attention to what Ishimaru does.
・Hayato Koizumi
I received an offer to participate, and I thought it sounded interesting, so I decided to take on the challenge. The short 2-night, 3-day period gave me time to reconsider my views on love. Since I usually focus on cooking, you probably don't often get to see my love life. I hope you'll watch and see what kind of love life I have.
- Akisaya Kamiya
To be honest, I was a little surprised that I was offered a spot on a dating show, but I decided to participate because I wanted to seriously find a marriage partner as I turned 25. I think I was able to be so natural that I almost forgot the cameras were there. I hope you enjoy seeing the real me.
- Izumi Senma
For someone like me who had been away from romance for a while, this appearance was a big challenge. I was anxious, but I was also excited because I thought it might be a chance to change myself. I hope you will watch how Izumi Senma approaches love in a straightforward and proactive way.
- Airina Hirakawa
I wanted to fall in love, but I was also worried about what would happen if I failed again. Even so, I decided to participate because I hoped that this experience would lead to finding a life partner. I want to convey the importance of actively engaging with love, even if you're not good at it.
・Natsuko Tatsumi
At first, I was very anxious and wondered if I could do it, but taking the plunge led to many new insights. I think people of the same age, or those who are taking a break from romance, will enjoy it, and I would be happy if they realize that it's not all bad after all.
・Haruka Ikeda
Having worked in the automotive industry up until now, I was surprised to receive an offer to appear on a dating show, but it was also the perfect timing as I had been thinking about starting my search for a partner, so I felt it was fate and decided to participate. The three days and two nights were, in a word, intense (laughs). There are so many twists and turns that will make you think, "I've never seen a dating show like this before," so please look forward to it.
