Ikechan (27), a travel-themed YouTuber known for her “loner” persona and for holding an architect license, is reportedly preparing to resume video uploads about a month after being embroiled in an affair scandal with Gentosha editor Kosuke Minowa (39). According to sources, she plans to restart activities in late August.
Affair Report and Apology Videos
On July 26, weekly magazine FLASH reported on the clandestine affair between Minowa and Ikechan, drawing intense public attention. Minowa is a star editor known as the author of Nothing But Death Is a Scratch and for producing bestsellers such as Takafumi Horie’s The Power of Restlessness and Yūji Maeda’s The Magic of Memos. Minowa is married to a former flight attendant and has two children.
Ikechan, meanwhile, is a YouTuber from Akita Prefecture who is also active as a gravure model. With around 500,000 subscribers (approximately 330,000 on her main channel), she gained popularity through videos about travel and solo living. Her wholesome image and “single with no boyfriend” character won her strong support from male fans, making the affair revelation particularly shocking.
Following the report, Minowa posted an apology video on his own YouTube channel, stating, “My family comes first. I am deeply sorry for causing discomfort to my wife.” He also mentioned Ikechan: “I persistently invited her, and it was due to my forceful approach that misleading photos were taken. I sincerely apologize.”
On July 27, Ikechan also released an apology video, wearing a white shirt with her hair tied back. “Due to my immature actions, I caused inconvenience and discomfort to many people. I am truly sorry,” she said, bowing her head. Regarding her career, she explained, “I agonized over whether to suspend my activities or continue, but I have chosen to continue.”
Resignation from Regional Revitalization Team
In early August, the village of Higashinaruse in Akita Prefecture announced that Ikechan, who had been appointed as a member of its regional revitalization cooperation team, had voluntarily resigned at the end of July. She cited personal reasons for the decision, which came before the end of her term. The resignation is believed to have been influenced by the scandal.
Her apology video drew more than 25,000 comments, but for the following month, she did not post any new videos, leaving fans with “radio silence.”
Preparations for Comeback
According to acquaintances, Ikechan has been considering moving since the scandal, visiting real estate properties and leading a hectic life.
“After the report, Ikechan started thinking about moving and has been checking out properties, which kept her very busy. Regarding her career, she consulted fellow YouTubers in a 30-member LINE group called ‘Watching Over Ikechan.’ During her self-restraint period, she also recorded collaboration videos with close YouTubers and influencers. She hinted at resuming activities in late August,” a friend revealed.
Challenges Ahead
Although she is planning to resume activities, it is undeniable that Ikechan’s wholesome and “non-romantic” character image has been severely damaged. Her apology video received many critical comments, such as “There’s no sincerity” and “Playing the victim, lol.” Whether she can regain her previous popularity remains uncertain.
Her subscriber count has already dropped by 17,000 following the scandal. Going forward, attention will be on whether she leverages her credentials as a licensed architect for new content directions or rebrands her character altogether.
As she prepares to return in late August, fans and viewers alike will be watching closely to see how Ikechan chooses to continue her YouTube career and how the audience will respond.
Author’s Comment
This is quite a scandalous story. A YouTuber marketed as pure and innocent being caught in an affair is already something of a cliché. The fact that her partner was a married editor makes it all the more like a drama.
Still, Ikechan is 27 and an adult. Instead of relying indefinitely on a “loner” or “no-romance” persona, perhaps she should have been honest from the start if she was actually dating. The world of YouTube is inherently one of “performance,” so discrepancies between character and reality are not unusual. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that fans felt betrayed.
Especially since she is intelligent and qualified as a licensed architect, one wonders why she did not act with more caution. Now that she has announced a comeback, the key question is what kind of character she will adopt going forward. The “pure and innocent” route may no longer be viable, so she may either become more open about romance or emphasize her expertise as an architect.
In any case, regaining lost trust will not be easy. However, she is still young, and this experience may serve as a stepping stone toward a new stage in her life. After all, life brings all kinds of challenges.
