What is Ainori?
Ainori is a reality television program from Japan. Three young women and
four young men travel around the world in a cramped van called the Love
Wagon.
According to Mieko
Koyama, production coordinator, "we try to set situations where they get
to know each other through different culture and environment and hope they
fall in love with each other."
If
all
works out, you go home together with the object of your affection, if it
doesn't, you take the walk of shame while the rest of the van watches you
slink away with the remains of your pride dragging sadly behind you.
Who are the hosts?
There are three hosts, Hisamoto Masami, Haruhiko Kato and Imada Koji. They
also make appearances on countless numbers of other television programs
and movies.
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Name |
Hisamoto
Masami
久本雅美 |
|
Nickname |
Machami |
|
Age |
44 |
|
Birthday |
July 9, 1960 |
|
Star Sign |
Cancer |
|
Hometown |
Osaka Prefecture |
|
Height |
154cm |
|
Weight |
40kg |
|
B/W/H |
80 / 57 / 83 |
|
Shoe Size |
22.5cm |
|
| Name |
Kato Haruhiko
加藤晴彦 |
| Age |
29 |
| Birthday |
May 13, 1975 |
| Star Sign |
Taurus |
|
Hometown |
Nagoya City |
| Blood Type |
O |
| Height |
175cm |
| Weight |
59kg |
| B/W/H |
88 / 67 / 87 |
|
Shoe Size |
26cm |
|
| Name |
Imada Koji
今田耕司 |
| Age |
38 |
| Birthday |
March 13, 1966 |
| Star Sign |
Pisces |
| Hometown |
Osaka Prefecture |
| Blood Type |
O |
| Height |
174cm |
| Weight |
56kg |
| B/W/H |
92 / 78 / 92 |
| Shoe Size |
25.5cm |
|
What kind
of bus/van is the Love Wagon?
The 1st Love Wagon was a 1999 Toyota High Ace. The second one was a GM. I believe they occasionally make new Love
Wagons rather than ship them to very distant locations to reduce cost.
Who wrote the theme song?
It depends what season you are referring to. The current theme
is Stargazer by Spitz.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Stargazer -
Spitz
October 2003
(10,000 copies...) |
Door to Tomorrow
-
I WiSH
October 2002
(900,000 copies sold) |
Way of
Difference - GLAY
October 2001
(1,100,000 copies sold) |
Fragile -
Every Little Thing
October 2000
(1,100,000 copies sold) |
 |
|
 |
|
The Beginning Place
- □ゆ ず
October 1999
(1,890,000 copies sold) |
|
Ainori Meets
Cyber Trance |
|
How long has the show been running?
The show has been running since October 1999.
Has the Love Wagon made it around the world?
While Ainori hasn't filmed in every country in the world they
did complete lap one in May 2003. On their second lap the Ainori
participants are visiting different countries, usually more remote,
developing ones. So it is an interesting way to learn about parts of the
world as well.
What country did the participants first visit?
The four male participants were sent by boat along with the Love
Wagon to South Korea were they met the three female participants.
Is this show real?
There
is
obviously *some* staging.
I
have
always been
under the impression that
they basically let things go however
fate
wanted, and when two people fall
in love, a
cameraman might say, "Hey,
can you do that conversation again, only in front of this scenic spot with
better lighting, and turn up the Kyushu dialect because it's cool" or
something like that...
However the famous Japanese tabloid Friday has gone on to say that
the whole show is "yarase" or set up. I guess it's impossible to know 100%
either way.
What station and when?
Tune
in to Fuji TV, Channel 8, on Monday at 11:15pm.
I'm not in Japan but I want to see
Ainori.
You can
download a 15-second
preview from Fuji TV each week.
It's not a lot but it will give you an idea about the show. Can I be on the show?
If you can speak Japanese and are between 18 and 30 it could be
possible. Gaijin (foreigners) have been on the show before. |
