Junichi Ishida (石田 純一, Ishida Jun'ichi, born 14 January 1954 as Tarō Ishida (石田 太郎)) is a Japanese actor and television personality from Tokyo. He is married to professional golfer Riko Higashio.

Biography

Junichi Ishida was born in Tokyo. His father was a foreign correspondent for NHK, and he lived in the U.S. from the age of 3 to 6. He attended Waseda University, but dropped out before graduating.

Ishida has been married three times. He first married while he was a student, fathering a son, Issei Ishida, who became an actor and musician. His second marriage, to Chiaki Matsubara, lasted for 11 years before they divorced in 1999. They had one daughter, Sumire, who became an actress. He was subsequently in a relationship with TV personality Rie Hasegawa, but their 8-year relationship ended in 2004.

In October 2009, Ishida announced his engagement to professional golfer Riko Higashio. They registered their marriage on 12 December 2009. Their first son, Ritarō (理汰郎), was born on 5 November 2012.

Ishida is famous for not wearing socks in public. He claims that this started after he saw Italians not wearing socks while he was in Milan in 1985.