Mako Ishino’s Beauty & Wellness Routine | Skincare, Diet & Exercise

In 1978, at just 17 years old, Mako Ishino made her singing debut with "Ookami Nanka Kowakunai" ("I'm Not Afraid of Wolves"). With her charming smile and expressive voice, she quickly became one of Japan's popular young idols. Nearly half a century later, she continues to enjoy a remarkable career as both a singer and an actress.

For those who remember Japan's Showa-era idol boom, Ishino remains a familiar and beloved figure. Younger audiences, however, may know her as the mother of Makino Tsukushi, played by Mao Inoue in the television drama Hana Yori Dango (Boys Over Flowers), or from more recent productions such as Yangotonaki Ichizoku, Hirotta Otoko, and Hikaru Kimi e.

Born on January 31, 1961, Ishino is 65 years old as of October 2026. Throughout her long entertainment career, her approach to beauty, health, and everyday life has gradually evolved.

In her forties, she enjoyed swimming and working out at the gym. In her fifties, she incorporated stretching and simple movements into her daily routine. In her sixties, squats and walking became familiar activities that she could continue at her own pace.

Her approach to food is equally down-to-earth. She keeps a variety of vegetables at home and has spoken about including flaxseed oil, nuts, and protein-rich foods in her meals. Cooking is not simply about preparing something to eat; it is also one of the ways she enjoys taking her mind away from a busy working day.

Her interests extend well beyond the kitchen. Growing blueberries on her terrace, painting flowers and landscapes, writing letters to friends, and enjoying the changing seasons all bring colour to her everyday life.

Despite her decades of experience in show business, Ishino has also spoken openly about feeling nervous before performances and occasionally being disappointed with her work. On such days, she looks for small accomplishments to acknowledge, giving herself encouragement before moving on to her next challenge.

In this article, we explore Mako Ishino's beauty and skincare habits, diet, exercise, sleep, and the ways she looks after her singing voice. We also look at her best-known roles, marriage history, family memories, friendships with fellow performers, and creative interests.

Drawing on interviews from different stages of her career, we can discover how Ishino has developed a personal approach to beauty and wellness while continuing to embrace the things she loves.

1. Who Is Mako Ishino? From Teenage Idol to Established Actress

Mako Ishino was born in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. As a young girl, she dreamed of becoming a singer and eventually entered Star Tanjo!, a popular Japanese television talent competition that helped launch the careers of numerous performers.

After succeeding in the competition in 1977, she made her recording debut on March 25, 1978, with "Ookami Nanka Kowakunai", released by Victor. The song attracted considerable attention, with lyrics written by Yu Aku and music composed by Takuro Yoshida, two prominent figures in Japanese popular music.

Her debut was followed by several newcomer awards and successful singles, including "Shitsuren Kinenbi", "Julie ga Rival", and "Haru La! La! La!". In 1979 and 1980, she appeared on NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, Japan's prestigious annual New Year's Eve music programme.

During those years, television, radio, and vinyl records played a central role in how people discovered new music. Ishino's friendly personality and distinctive singing style helped her establish a strong connection with audiences.

Her schedule was extremely demanding. In a 2022 interview, she recalled releasing new songs at short intervals and sometimes recording late at night after completing a full day of television appearances and other work.

For a 17-year-old who had left her hometown to pursue a career in Tokyo, the entertainment industry must have felt like an entirely new world. One memory remained especially meaningful: hearing her own debut song playing in the street and realising that people were listening to her music.

In 1979, she began her acting career with the television drama Netsuai Ikka: LOVE. At the time, she was still busy with her singing commitments, and working on a drama presented a different set of challenges. She later recalled how kindly the experienced actors around her treated her, an experience that helped her discover the pleasure of acting.

After temporarily stepping away from entertainment following her marriage in 1981, Ishino returned to the industry in 1983. She gradually expanded her work into films, television dramas, and stage productions.

In 2005, she played Chieko Makino, the mother of Mao Inoue's character Tsukushi Makino, in Hana Yori Dango (Boys Over Flowers). Her portrayal of a cheerful, resilient mother brought warmth and humour to the Makino family.

In 2022, she played the mother of Tao Tsuchiya's character in Yangotonaki Ichizoku (The Inheritance of a Distinguished Family). That same year, she appeared in Hirotta Otoko (Lost Man Found), portraying the mother of the brothers played by Taiga Nakano and Tsuyoshi Kusanagi.

Her later television work includes the 2024 NHK historical drama Hikaru Kimi e, while her film appearances include True Beauty in 2025. Further television roles were announced for 2026, demonstrating that she remains active as an actress at 65.

Music has also remained an important part of her life. Ishino resumed full-scale musical activities in 2003 and has continued performing at concerts and live events.

According to her official Victor Entertainment profile, she has released 28 singles and 14 original albums. Her career reflects many years of dedication to both singing and acting.

In 2004, she released the album Umi no Kioku ("Memories of the Sea"). In an interview with Nihon Shokuryo Shimbun, she discussed the happiness of returning to music and reconnecting with fans.

For someone who first became famous as a teenage singer, finding new opportunities as an actress and later returning to the recording studio marked important stages in a career that has continually evolved.

2. Mako Ishino's Beauty and Skincare Habits: Enjoying Makeup at Every Age

One of the most appealing aspects of Mako Ishino's attitude towards beauty is her willingness to acknowledge changes in her skin while continuing to enjoy learning about makeup and personal care.

At a beauty event in Tokyo in February 2024, she openly discussed concerns about dark circles beneath her eyes and dull-looking skin.

Although her work regularly brings her into contact with professional makeup artists, Ishino experiences the changes that come with ageing just like anyone else. Rather than treating these concerns as something to hide, she approaches them with curiosity.

She gathers beauty information in several ways. On television and film sets, she talks with makeup artists. During visits to the hair salon, she reads magazines. She also enjoys watching makeup tutorials online.

At the 2024 event, she mentioned videos presented by beauty expert SHOKO. Ishino explained that she enjoyed the feeling of having someone guide her through the techniques, almost as though a teacher were beside her.

She has shown particular interest in details such as concealer application and the way makeup bases are used. Even after spending decades working with beauty professionals, she continues discovering new approaches.

That curiosity is part of what makes her beauty philosophy so relatable. She does not present herself as someone who has already mastered every technique. Instead, she enjoys finding out what suits her at each stage of life.

In a 2016 beauty interview, Ishino similarly discussed the importance of choosing methods that feel right for her, rather than simply following every new piece of beauty advice.

New products, techniques, and trends appear constantly. Her approach is to explore these possibilities and select what feels comfortable and practical in her own life.

Her view of beauty also extends beyond skincare and cosmetics to facial expressions and everyday interactions.

Ishino has been known for her gentle smile since her early idol years. In a 2004 interview, she spoke about the importance of laughing, sharing happiness, and expressing emotions naturally.

As a singer, she communicates directly with audiences. As an actress, she portrays happiness, sadness, uncertainty, and many other emotions. Facial expressions have always played a major role in her professional life.

Yet she also values them in ordinary relationships. At the 2024 beauty event, she spoke about wanting to keep the corners of her mouth lifted and approach each day with a pleasant outlook.

Her perspective brings together several elements: noticing the condition of her skin, learning new makeup techniques, and enjoying warm exchanges with other people.

At the same event, Ishino reunited with actress Megumi Okina, with whom she had previously worked on stage. The two discussed changing beauty concerns and everyday eating habits, sharing their experiences of caring for themselves as they grow older.

Such encounters are also part of Ishino's continuing education in beauty and life. Her entertainment career has introduced her to people from different generations, allowing her to exchange experiences and discover new ideas.

3. Exercise Through the Decades: Swimming, Stretching, and Squats

A closer look at Ishino's interviews reveals how her relationship with exercise has changed from her forties through her sixties.

In 2004, when she was 43, she told Nihon Shokuryo Shimbun that she had started swimming at a gym the previous year.

Alongside swimming, she practised machine-based workouts and walking. When she could not visit the gym, she sometimes exercised at home instead.

During that period, she had begun noticing changes in her body shape as she entered her forties. She was also returning more actively to singing, making her daily physical condition an important consideration.

Her gym routine, however, was flexible. Sometimes she visited once a week, while at other times her work schedule meant she went for a month without attending.

Rather than following a rigid timetable, she adjusted her activities to fit the demands of work and everyday life.

As she moved into her fifties, Ishino also became interested in movements she could incorporate into ordinary daily activities.

In a 2016 beauty interview, she discussed abdominal breathing, stretching, and heel raises as forms of exercise that could be practised in familiar surroundings.

In 2018, she described sometimes performing 30 heel raises while cooking in the kitchen.

It is a memorable example of how exercise fitted into her routine. The time spent preparing food also provided an opportunity to move her body.

By 2022, at the age of 61, Ishino had developed another lasting habit: squats.

She explained that she did not insist on doing them every single day. There were days when she took a break, but by continuing over time, squats had gradually become part of her routine.

In a 2024 interview, she again mentioned walking and squats, explaining that simple exercises suited her because she could continue them comfortably.

She also spoke about the importance of making small, consistent efforts so that she could keep contributing to good productions as a performer.

Looking across the years, a clear progression emerges. In her forties, she enjoyed gym-based exercise. In her fifties, she incorporated movement into household activities. In her sixties, walking and squats became part of her regular routine.

Each period reflects a slightly different relationship with exercise, shaped by age, lifestyle, and professional responsibilities.

For an actress and singer, work may involve long filming days, rehearsals, and performances with changing schedules. Being able to adapt exercise to different circumstances has been a practical part of Ishino's lifestyle.

There is also something distinctive about her attitude towards consistency. Instead of measuring success entirely by whether she completes a workout every day, she values keeping the habit alive over the long term.

Her experience offers an engaging picture of how a personal exercise routine can evolve naturally through different stages of life.

4. Mako Ishino's Diet: Flaxseed Oil, Nuts, Vegetables, and Home Cooking

Mako Ishino's approach to eating combines an interest in nutritional balance with a genuine enjoyment of cooking and trying different foods.

In a 2016 beauty interview, she explained that she liked eating foods she enjoyed while also making a conscious effort to include plenty of vegetables.

A 2021 interview with Nihon Shokuryo Shimbun revealed more about what she kept in her kitchen.

Her refrigerator was regularly stocked with cabbage, cucumbers, myoga Japanese ginger, cherry tomatoes, and mitsuba, a fragrant Japanese herb.

She enjoyed using these ingredients in different combinations, depending on what she felt like preparing.

Ishino also likes discovering recipes through television programmes and books. When something looks delicious, she sometimes decides to try making it herself.

One dish she discussed in 2021 was called "rucola oage", combining arugula with lightly grilled Japanese fried tofu.

She described grilling the tofu until it developed a little colour, cutting it into thin strips, and combining it with arugula and watercress. Lemon juice and freshly grated Parmigiano cheese completed the dish.

The combination brings together the toasted flavour of fried tofu, the freshness of leafy greens, the brightness of lemon, and the savoury character of cheese.

It is a good example of Ishino's enjoyment of combining familiar ingredients in creative ways.

She also expressed interest in preparing a dish using mitsuba and octopus, lightly dressed with olive oil, garlic, and salt.

Japanese aromatic vegetables and Mediterranean-style ingredients appear comfortably alongside one another in her cooking. Her interest lies in enjoyable flavours rather than strictly separating Japanese and Western dishes.

At a beauty event in February 2024, Ishino mentioned using flaxseed oil in cooking and paying attention to foods such as nuts and protein-rich ingredients.

Flaxseed oil is made from flax seeds and contains alpha-linolenic acid, a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid. It differs from the EPA and DHA found in fish, but it is another example of the variety of dietary fats found in everyday foods.

Her comments show that she takes an interest in the ingredients she uses, while still approaching meals in a relaxed and enjoyable way.

She has explained that she does not impose strict rules requiring herself to eat particular foods every day.

Instead, she pays attention to how she feels and considers what she would like to eat at that moment.

In a 2024 interview, she reflected that when she was younger, the demands of work sometimes led her to push herself physically. As she grew older, she became more attentive to her body's condition.

She now places value on a balanced diet while continuing to enjoy the experience of eating.

Earlier interviews also reveal her interest in traditional Japanese home cooking. In 2018, she discussed homemade nukazuke, vegetables pickled in fermented rice bran, and miso soup filled with various ingredients.

She enjoyed incorporating fermented foods into her meals while remaining curious about new recipes.

Her cooking habits therefore reflect both familiar Japanese traditions and a willingness to experiment with different ingredients.

Food preparation is also one of the ways Ishino relaxes.

In a 2022 interview, she admitted that she sometimes continued thinking about scripts or filming after returning home from work.

At such times, she found pleasure in cutting vegetables, preparing dishes, and deciding which plates or bowls would suit the food.

She has collected a variety of tableware, from traditional Japanese ceramics to Western-style dishes, and sometimes goes shopping for pieces on her own.

Her collection became so extensive that she laughingly admitted she had started trying to limit how much more she purchased.

Choosing a favourite bowl, arranging food attractively, and enjoying a meal give her an opportunity to shift her attention away from work.

For Ishino, cooking is therefore closely connected with her enjoyment of everyday life. The ingredients, preparation, presentation, and atmosphere of a meal all contribute to the experience.

5. Caring for Her Singing Voice: Humidifiers, Vocal Practice, Sleep, and Emotional Rest

Ishino's long career as a singer provides another important perspective on her approach to health.

Since her debut in 1978, singing has remained a central part of her identity. After resuming full-scale musical activities in 2003, she continued performing at concerts and live events while also working as an actress.

In a 2004 interview with Nihon Shokuryo Shimbun, she discussed some of the ways she prepared herself for singing.

She practised vocal exercises and kept a humidifier in her room. On days when she was going to sing, she sometimes used a small disposable heat pack to keep her neck warm.

These were personal habits she incorporated into her life while preparing for performances.

For someone whose career involves singing on stage, vocal practice and awareness of physical condition are naturally important aspects of professional preparation.

Her experience shows that caring for herself was closely connected to continuing a career she loved.

In a 2016 beauty interview, Ishino also mentioned making sure she got sufficient sleep.

Since her teenage years, she has experienced many different working patterns, including television appearances, late-night recording sessions, filming, rehearsals, and stage performances.

Through these experiences, rest gradually became another important consideration in her everyday routine.

She has also spoken candidly about the emotional demands of performing.

In a 2022 interview with ESSEonline, she admitted that even after many years in entertainment, she still felt nervous about certain jobs.

That year, she appeared in the stage comedy Kitto Kore mo Rehearsal, a story that begins when a mother announces that she wants to hold a rehearsal for her own funeral.

It was Ishino's first stage appearance in approximately six years, making the production a particularly meaningful new challenge.

She discussed both the anxiety of returning to the stage and the pleasure of performing in front of an audience again.

Even after returning home, she sometimes continued thinking about her work. She compared the feeling to having school homework waiting to be completed.

The comparison is both humorous and revealing. It shows how seriously she approaches each performance, regardless of how much experience she has accumulated.

To help herself move forward after a difficult day, Ishino tries to recognise small accomplishments.

She might remind herself that she completed the day's work or handled something a little better than she had the previous day.

By acknowledging these moments, she gives herself encouragement instead of focusing entirely on what went wrong.

In a 2024 interview, she also discussed the value of sometimes telling herself, "Well, that's okay," rather than dwelling excessively on every concern.

Her approach combines dedication to her work with kindness towards herself.

She takes her performances seriously while making room for activities that help her shift her attention elsewhere.

Cooking, tending flowers, painting, and writing letters are all ways she enjoys spending time outside her professional responsibilities.

These activities give her opportunities to immerse herself in something personally satisfying, allowing her to return to work with a fresh perspective.

6. Gardening, Painting, and Rakugo: Creative Hobbies That Enrich Her Life

Flowers and plants have been an important part of Mako Ishino's life for many years.

In a 2004 interview, she explained that having a terrace was one of her priorities when looking for a home.

At the time, her home featured a substantial flower bed, and she was growing more than ten trees. One of her favourites was a rose variety called Iceberg.

Within approximately two years of planting it, the rose had grown vigorously enough to spread across a wall. She enjoyed watching its flowers bloom around May and June.

Her love of plants had roots in her childhood. At her family home in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, her father enjoyed growing a variety of plants.

Having flowers and greenery around her as a child may have helped shape the pleasure she later found in gardening.

Looking after plants also involves physical activity. Repotting, moving soil, and caring for a garden can be demanding, and Ishino has described getting covered in mud while working with her plants.

She enjoys the practical work as well as the beauty of the finished garden.

She has grown blueberries and mint on her terrace, sometimes using what she grew in the kitchen. Flowers also find their way indoors, bringing seasonal colour into her home.

In a 2024 interview, she described continuing to grow plants on her balcony and buying flowers when she came across ones she liked at a florist.

She finds delight in watching plants develop new shoots, produce flowers, and eventually bear fruit.

For Ishino, gardening is both a relaxing pastime and a way of connecting with the changing seasons.

Her artistic interests extend to painting, embroidery, and other forms of handcraft.

During a 2016 beauty interview, she spoke about enjoying adult colouring books. She had liked making things with her hands since childhood and found pleasure in selecting colours and creating images.

In July 2018, she held her first solo painting exhibition in Tokyo.

The exhibition featured paintings of flowers and landscapes created with gansai, traditional Japanese watercolour pigments commonly used in Japanese-style painting.

Alongside expressing emotions through songs and acting, Ishino had found another creative outlet through visual art.

Her enjoyment of drawing also appears in small everyday gestures.

In a 2022 interview, she mentioned sometimes adding little illustrations to postcards she sent to friends.

Recipients were occasionally surprised to learn that Ishino herself had drawn the pictures.

Writing a postcard offers an opportunity to think about the person receiving it. Adding a hand-drawn image makes the exchange even more personal.

In 2024, Ishino also revealed a growing interest in rakugo, Japan's traditional form of comic storytelling performed by a single storyteller.

She had watched recordings of the celebrated rakugo performer Shincho Kokontei and was deeply impressed by his command of language.

His flowing Edo-style expressions and ability to create entire scenes through words alone fascinated her.

She suggested that part of her interest in rakugo came from wanting to express her own thoughts and feelings more clearly.

For someone who has spent decades conveying emotions through lyrics and dramatic dialogue, discovering another form of verbal expression was particularly meaningful.

Gardening, painting, embroidery, letter writing, and rakugo may seem like very different activities. Yet they all reflect Ishino's curiosity, her enjoyment of creativity, and her appreciation of life's smaller details.

7. Mako Ishino's Marriages, Family, and Co-Stars: The People in Her Life

Mako Ishino's life has included major personal changes alongside the milestones of her music and acting career.

In 1981, she married singer-songwriter Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi and temporarily stepped away from entertainment. The couple divorced in 1983, after which she returned to the industry.

In 1990, she married actor Shun Hirooka. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1996.

Through these different stages of her personal life, Ishino continued developing her career as a singer and actress.

After returning to entertainment, she gained further experience in television dramas, films, and theatre. She also eventually resumed more extensive concert and recording activities.

Ishino is the eldest of three sisters who grew up in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture.

Her younger sister, Yoko Ishino, made her singing debut in 1985 and later became an actress.

On the October 20, 2026 broadcast of Tetsuko's Room, a long-running Japanese television interview programme, Yoko shared memories of her older sister and explained how she first became involved in the entertainment world.

One of the important experiences was visiting Mako's television drama filming location.

During school holidays, Yoko sometimes went to see her sister at work. While observing the filming process, she was approached by a director and gained experience of being involved in a drama production.

Her older sister's professional environment therefore introduced her to a world that would eventually become part of her own career.

The sisters grew up in a household where their parents were involved in making beaded handbags.

They were also taught the importance of manners and proper behaviour.

Knowing that craftsmanship was part of their family environment adds another interesting dimension to Mako's own enjoyment of painting, bead embroidery, and other creative activities.

Her memories of her grandparents are equally important to her.

In a 2024 interview, Ishino recalled visiting their home during traditional Japanese holiday periods such as Obon and New Year.

Her grandfather was a quiet man, but he enjoyed carrying young Mako on his shoulders and taking her to a harbour town.

As evening approached, the neon signs of the local cinema would begin to glow. Watching the lights from her grandfather's shoulders was one of her favourite childhood experiences.

She remembered that although he was usually reserved, her grandfather looked happy when he saw how much she enjoyed their outings.

She also recalled an emotional memory of her grandmother.

When Ishino visited her grandparents as an adult, her grandmother would accompany her to the railway station to say goodbye.

As the train approached, her grandmother sometimes turned her face away because the sadness of parting brought tears to her eyes.

Even after Ishino entered show business, her grandmother continued supporting her and attended performances.

In the 2024 interview, Ishino reflected on wishing she had spent more time talking with her grandparents.

Her memories express both gratitude for the affection she received as a child and the deeper understanding that can develop as people grow older.

Relationships with fellow performers have also played an important role in Ishino's professional life.

In her first television drama, Netsuai Ikka: LOVE, the legendary actress Mitsuko Mori played her mother.

At the time, Ishino's demanding singing schedule sometimes meant she arrived late at the filming location. The experienced actors welcomed her warmly and helped her feel comfortable.

Looking back, she has described how those experiences contributed to her growing affection for acting.

In 2005, she played Mao Inoue's mother in Hana Yori Dango. During a 2022 interview, she fondly recalled humorous scenes involving the Makino family's dining table.

That same year, Ishino appeared alongside Megumi Okina in the stage production Shuffle.

The two actresses reunited at a beauty event in 2024, discussing changes in their skin, everyday meals, and approaches to personal care.

Okina expressed how fond she had been of Ishino since their earlier work together and was delighted to see her again.

It was a lovely example of how relationships formed during an acting project can continue to have meaning many years later.

Ishino has also worked with younger performers such as Tao Tsuchiya, Taiga Nakano, and Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, taking on a wide range of family roles in television dramas.

Another memorable production was the 2021 film Otsunahiki no Koi, which was filmed in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture.

Ishino portrayed the protagonist's mother, a woman who watches over her family and the people around her with affection and trust.

During filming, she regularly visited a local restaurant called Tsunagokoro, where she enjoyed comforting dishes such as oden, a traditional Japanese stew, and gyoza dumplings.

The restaurant's owner welcomed the actors and staff warmly. On days when filming had been especially tiring, she sometimes prepared food that was easy for Ishino to eat.

Visits to the restaurant provided opportunities to meet fellow cast and crew members, share meals, and enjoy time together away from the cameras.

Travelling to new locations for work has therefore given Ishino opportunities not only to perform but also to experience local food, customs, and the kindness of people she meets along the way.

8. Mako Ishino at 65: Finding Joy in Ageing and Living Naturally

Looking back over Mako Ishino's approach to beauty and health, it becomes clear that her priorities have evolved as her life has changed.

As a teenager, she pursued her dream of becoming a singer and entered a demanding industry filled with new experiences.

In her forties, she returned more actively to music and began spending time swimming and exercising at the gym.

During her fifties and sixties, she became increasingly interested in forms of movement that fitted comfortably into her daily routine, as well as enjoying balanced meals without imposing strict rules on herself.

In a 2024 interview, Ishino reflected that she had sometimes pushed her body too hard when she was younger.

Over time, she learned to pay closer attention to her physical condition and to make choices about food and exercise according to how she felt.

She has described an amusing personal philosophy: perhaps her particular commitment is not being too particular about things.

Whether she is preparing meals, exercising, or tending plants, she values being able to enjoy the activity without placing excessive pressure on herself.

Her dedication to her career remains strong, even though new roles can still make her nervous.

On difficult working days, she reminds herself of the small things she has accomplished. This habit helps her recognise her efforts rather than becoming entirely absorbed in whatever did not go as planned.

In a 2024 interview, she also mentioned trying to express herself a little better the next time she found it difficult to put her thoughts into words.

Her interest in learning new things continues to grow.

Alongside long-standing hobbies such as painting and gardening, she has developed an appreciation for rakugo storytelling, particularly the work of Shincho Kokontei.

After decades of communicating through songs and dramatic performances, she still finds inspiration in other artists' ability to convey emotion through language.

Her reflections on her grandparents reveal another important aspect of her outlook.

In a 2024 interview, she spoke about remembering loved ones with gratitude and keeping their presence alive in her heart even after saying goodbye.

Memories of family, the people she has met through work, and the friendships she continues to maintain are all part of what makes her everyday life meaningful.

In a 2004 interview, Ishino discussed the happiness she felt when she could bring joy to others through music.

She loved singing, and the knowledge that her songs could make listeners happy added another layer of meaning to the experience.

That exchange of enjoyment between performer and audience remains an important part of what makes singing special to her.

Mako Ishino's beauty and wellness habits reveal much more than a collection of skincare, dietary, and exercise preferences.

They also reflect her commitment to continuing the work she loves, her willingness to listen to her body, and her habit of finding pleasure in everyday experiences.

Cooking a favourite dish, tending flowers, painting, writing to a friend, preparing for a concert, or sharing a meal with fellow performers all bring different forms of enjoyment into her life.

Nearly fifty years after making her singing debut at 17, Ishino continues to embrace new roles, share her music, and discover fresh interests at the age of 65.

Her story offers a warm perspective on growing older: carrying cherished memories forward, remaining curious about the world, and finding a way of living that feels genuinely one's own.