Ainori

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Ainori (あいのり, Ainori^?), literally "Ride together", or "Car pool" but can also be read as "love ride", is a popular television program that runs Monday evenings from 11pm in Japan on Fuji TV. It debuted on October 11, 1999.

1 Show Description
2 Countries visited
3 Memorable Incidents
4 Commentators
5 Trivia
6 References

[edit] Show Description

Ainori is a reality program where seven young men and women travel the world riding a pink bus. The program is reminiscent of a travelogue; as of September 2007, the show has followed the bus across 79 countries as participants explore both famous tourist attractions and more off-the-beaten-path places. The participants are led across each country by a native who serves as tour guide, bus driver, and friend. Upon reaching the border with another country, the bus stops and participants head out to their next destination country to meet their new tour guide and get into their new bus.

The show's twist is that the participants are each young, single people whose goal is to find love with another participant and return to Japan as a couple. When a participant has decided they like someone else, they ask the driver for a ticket back to Japan. They then declare their love to the object of their affection, and ask that the two return to Japan together. After a night's consideration, the person who received the love declaration can either answer with a kiss, after which both participants leave the bus for Japan. Otherwise, the jilted participant is left to return to Japan alone. Besides the love declaration, participants are forbidden from talking openly about their love interests with other participants, but inform the TV audience of their feelings through diaries and confessions to the camera (shot when no other participants are present).

After people leave the bus, new people are added to the program, to keep the total at 7 members. They are seen on the side of the road with a painted cardboard sign (appearing to be hitchhikers) and brought aboard after a self-introduction.

[edit] Countries visited

#	Country	Air Date	Riders/Cast	Couples
0	Japan	1999.10.11	Takaya, Kazu, Hori, Kim, Okan, Midori, Ai
1	South Korea	1999.10.11 ~ 1999.11.15	Takaya, Kazu, Hori, Kim, Okan, Midori, Ai	Takaya ♥ Okan
2	People's Republic of China	1999.11.15 ~ 2000.01.17	Shingo, Ino, Hori, Fuku, Kim, Tomo, Midori, Ai	Hori ♥ Ai
3	Vietnam	2000.01.17 ~ 2000.02.21	Yun, Ino, Shu, Kim, Tomo, Kyoko, Mio	Ino ♥ Tomo
4	Cambodia	2000.02.28 ~ 2000.03.13	Yun, Taakun, Satoshi, Kim, Mie, Kyoko, Wakana	Yun ♥ Kyoko
5	Thailand	2000.03.20 ~ 2000.05.08	Yuji, Taakun, Satoshi, Kim, Mie, Sanae, Wakana	Kim ♥ Midori
6	India	2000.05.15 ~ 2000.06.26	Hisashi, Gyo, Suna, Sen, Mariko, Miyuki, Tanabe	Hisashi ♥ Mariko (back in Japan)
7	Turkey	2000.06.26 ~ 2000.07.24	Haru, Gyo, Yassan, Sen, Yuki, Miyuki, Tanabe
8	Bulgaria	2000.07.24 ~ 2000.08.07	Haru, Gyo, Yassan, Sen, Yuki, Miyuki, Tanabe	Gyo ♥ Miyuki // Haru ♥ Yuki
9	Greece	2000.08.07 ~ 2000.08.21	Kenishi, Yassan, Sen, Devi, Tanabe
10	Italy	2000.08.28 ~ 2000.09.25	Go, Kenishi, Fujiwara, Sen, Nao, Devi, Chinatsu, Paolo
11	France	2000.09.25 ~ 2000.11.13	Go, Kenishi, Fujiwara, Sen, Nao, Devi, Chinatsu	Sen ♥ Devi // Fujiwara ♥ Naro
12	Spain	2000.11.13 ~ 2000.12.18	Go, Kenishi, Tsune, Seki, Yuko, Eri, Hitomi
13	Morocco	2000.12.18 ~ 2001.01.15	Go, Takashi, Seki, Yuko, Eri, Hitomi	Go ♥ Eri
14	Brazil	2001.01.22 ~ 2001.02.26	Seki, Takashi, Ken, Sasayan, Yuko, Hitomi, Ogu	Sasayan ♥ Yuko
15	Paraguay	2001.02.26
16	Argentina	2001.03.05 ~ 2001.04.03	Seki, Takashi, Ken, Naoya, Keiko, Hitomi, Ogu	Ken ♥ Keiko
17	Chile	2001.04.03 ~ 2001.04.30	Seki, Takashi, Naoya, Ringo, Ogu	Takashi ♥ Ogu
18	Bolivia	2001.04.30 ~ 2001.05.21	Seki, Yamasaki, Daisuke, Naoya, Ringo, You, Tsucchi
19	Peru	2001.05.21 ~ 2001.07.02	Seki, Yamasaki, Daisuke, Naoya, Ringo, You, Tsucchi
20	Ecuador	2001.07.02 ~ 2001.08.13	Seki, Yosei, Daisuke, Naoya, Nacchan, You, Tsucchi
21	Panama	2001.08.13 ~ 2001.09.24	Seki, Yosei, Daisuke, Yasu, Nacchan, Akki, Yuka	Yosei ♥ Akki
22	Costa Rica	2001.10.02	Seki, Reggae, Daisuke, Yasu, Nacchan, Akki, Yuka	Daisuke ♥ Nacchan
23	Jamaica	2001.10.02 ~ 2001.11.05	Seki, Reggae, Tobi, Yasu, Aiai, Vivi, Yuka	Seki ♥ Yuka
24	Cuba	2001.11.12 ~ 2001.12.10	Yasu, Reggae, Tobi, Yoshi, Vivi, Yukinee, Mizuho
25	Honduras	2001.12.17 ~ 2002.01.07	Yasu, Reggae, Tobi, Yoshi, Vivi, Yukinee, Mizuho
26	Guatemala	2002.01.07 ~ 2002.02.18	Take, Reggae, Tobi, Yoshi, Vivi, Yukinee, Mizuho	Tobi ♥ Vivi
27	Belize	2002.02.18 ~ 2002.03.11	Take, Reggae, Taka, Yoshi, Mika, Yukinee, Mizuho
28	Mexico	2002.03.11 ~ 2002.06.24	Tiger, Reggae, Taka, Yoshi, Mika, Yukinee, Megu	Tiger ♥ Megu // Taka ♥ Mika
29	New Zealand	2002.07.01 ~ 2002.08.05	Kouta, Keisuke, Tomokun, Nanchan, Osugi, Yuri, Waka
30	Australia	2002.08.05 ~ 2002.10.14	Kouta, Keisuke, Daijyo, Nanchan, Osugi, Yuri, Waka	Keisuke ♥ Osugi // Daijyo ♥ Yuri
31	Papua New Guinea	2002.10.21 ~ 2002.11.18	Kouta, Ketsu, Tsuna, Nanchan, Miho, Rei, Yukachan
32	Tonga	2002.11.25 ~ 2002.12.02	Kouta, Ketsu, Kazukun, Nanchan, Miho, Rei, Yukachan
33	Fiji	2002.12.02 ~ 2002.12.23	Kouta, Ketsu, Kazukun, Nanchan, Miho, Rei, Yukachan
34	Nicaragua	2002.12.29 ~ 2003.02.03	Kouta, Ketsu, Kazukun, Miho, Rei, Yukachan	Kota ♥ Miho
35	United States	2003.02.03 ~ 2003.04.21	Kazukun, Miyaken, Takuro, Asachan, Yukachan, Saki, Marippe	Kazukun ♥ Yukachan
36	Canada	2003.04.21 ~ 2003.05.19	Dobokun, Miyaken, Taji, Asachan, Gacha, Saki, Mikan	Dobokun ♥ Saki
37	Philippines	2003.05.26 ~ 2003.06.30	Dai, Miyaken, Taji, Asachan, Gacha, Mikan, Yukki, Michelle
38	Indonesia	2003.06.30 ~ 2003.07.28	Dai, Boxer, Taji, Asachan, Gacha, Eiko, Sakura
39	Brunei	2003.07.28 ~ 2003.08.04	Dai, Boxer, Shima, Asachan, Gacha, Eiko, Sakura
40	Malaysia	2003.08.04 ~ 2003.08.11	Dai, Boxer, Shima, Asachan, Gacha, Eiko, Sakura
41	Singapore	2003.08.11 ~ 2003.08.25	Dai, Boxer, Shima, Asachan, Gacha, Eiko, Sakura	Dai, ♥ Gacha
42	Myanmar	2003.09.01 ~ 2003.10.13	Souta, Hasshi, Shima, Asachan, Rii, Eiko, Sakura
43	Bhutan	2003.10.20 ~ 2003.12.01	Souta, Hasshi, Hayato, Asachan, Rii, Yuumin, Sakura
44	Nepal	2003.12.01 ~ 2004.01.12	Kouei, Hasshi, Hayato, Asachan, Rii, Yuumin, Kaji
45	Sri Lanka	2004.01.12 ~ 2004.02.16	Kouei, Hasshi, Hayato, Asachan, Miki, Yuumin, Kaji
46	Madagascar	2004.02.23 ~ 2004.04.01	Kouei, Haoron, Hayato, Asachan, Miki, Yuumin, Kaji	Hayato ♥ Yuumin
47	South Africa	2004.04.01 ~ 2004.05.17	Kouei, Haoron, Hakase, Miki, Jyuri, Kaji	Kouei ♥ Miki // Kaji ♥ Dominiku (Driver)
48	Botswana	2004.05.17 ~ 2004.06.07	Takkii, Haoron, Hakase, Ryou, Yuka, Jyuri, Numa
49	Namibia	2004.06.14 ~ 2004.07.19	Takkii, Jyunpei, Hakase, Ryou, Yuka, Jyuri, Numa	Ryou ♥ Jyuri
50	Malawi	2004.07.19 ~ 2004.08.30	Takkii, Jyunpei, Yuukun, Hide, Yuka, Seriha, Numa
51	Tanzania	2004.09.06 ~ 2004.10.18	Icchi, Jyunpei, Yuukun, Hide, Kayo, Seriha, Numa
52	Kenya	2004.10.18 ~ 2004.11.22	Icchi, Jyunpei, Yuukun, Hide, Kayo, Seriha, Ose
53	Ethiopia	2004.11.22 ~ 2004.12.27	Icchi, Jyunpei, Yuukun, Hide, Haisya, Soruto, Seriha, Ose	Icchi ♥ Seriha
54	Cameroon	2005.01.10 ~ 2005.02.14	Buku, Jyunpei, Yuukun, Hide, Soruto, Riko, Ose
55	Tunisia	2005.02.14 ~ 2005.04.11	Buku, Koji, Yuukun, Hide, Soruto, Riko, Ose	Yuukun ♥ Riko
56	Egypt	2005.04.11 ~ 2005.05.16	Buku, Koji, Arashi, Hide, Mikarin, Omami, Ose	Buku ♥ Ose
57	Oman	2005.05.16 ~ 2005.06.13	Suuzan, Koji, Arashi, Hide, Mikarin, Omami, Takano
58	United Arab Emirates	2005.06.13 ~ 2005.07.18	Suuzan, Koji, Arashi, Hide, Mikarin, Omami, Takano, Nacchi
59	Qatar	2005.07.25	Suuzan, TK, Arashi, Hide, Mikarin, Omami, Takano
60	Bahrain	2005.08.01 ~ 2005.09.05	Suuzan, TK, Arashi, Hide, Mikarin, Omami, Takano
61	Russia	2005.09.12 ~ 2005.10.17	Suuzan, TK, Arashi, Hide, Mie, Umechan, Aya
62	Ukraine	2005.10.17 ~ 2005.11.28	Suuzan, TK, Arashi, Hide, Mie, Umechan, Aya
63	Romania	2005.11.28 ~ 2006.01.16	Suuzan, Alex, Arashi, Hide, Mie, Umechan, Aya	Arashi ♥ Aya
64	Hungary	2006.01.16 ~ 2006.03.06	Suuzan, Alex, Tagami, Outlaw, Mie, Izumi, Hisayon
65	Austria	2006.03.13 ~ 2006.04.24	Suuzan, Alex, Tagami, Outlaw, Goki, Izumi, Hisayon
66	Liechtenstein	2006.04.24	Suuzan, Alex, Tagami, Outlaw, Goki, Izumi, Hisayon
67	Switzerland	2006.04.24 ~ 2006.06.19	Suuzan, Souri, Tagami, Outlaw, Goki, Izumi, Hisayon	Outlaw ♥ Goki (back in Japan) // Suuzan ♥ Mie (back in Japan)
68	Croatia	2006.07.03 ~ 2006.07.24	Ueki, Souri, Tagami, Tachi, Yankumi, Chaki, Hisayon
69	Bosnia and Herzegovina	2006.07.31 ~ 2006.08.28	Ueki, Souri, Yokomi, Tachi, Yankumi, Chaki, Hisayon
70	Poland	2006.09.04 ~ 2006.10.23	Ueki, Sanchan, Yokomi, Tachi, Yankumi, Chaki, Junko	Tachi ♥ Junko
71	Sweden	2006.10.30 ~ 2006.12.04	Ueki, Sanchan, Yokomi, Issy, Yankumi, Chaki, Nagisa	Ueki ♥ Chaki
72	Norway	2006.12.11 ~ 2007.01.29	Gurasan, Sanchan, Yokomi, Issy, Yankumi, Bambi, Nagisa
73	Iceland	2007.02.12 ~ 2007.03.19	Gurasan, Sanchan, Moriken, Issy, Miyanee, Bambi, Nagisa	Issy ♥ Nagisa
74	Dominican Republic	2007.04.09 ~ 2007.05.07	Gurasan, Sanchan, Moriken, Oga, Miyanee, Bambi, Hiroe
75	Trinidad and Tobago	2007.05.21 ~ 2007.05.28	Gurasan, Sanchan, Moriken, Oga, Miyanee, Neko, Hiroe
76	Suriname	2007.06.04 ~ 2007.06.18	Gurasan, Sanchan, Moriken, Oga, Miyanee, Neko, Hiroe
77	Venezuela	2007.06.18 ~ 2007.07.30	Gurasan, Hiderinko, Moriken, Oga, Miyanee, Neko, Hiroe
78	Taiwan	2007.08.06 ~ 2007.08.27	Gurasan, Teppei, Moriken, Pochi, Kuu, Neko, Hiroe
79	Tuvalu	2007.09.03 ~ 2007.09.17	Teppei, Moriken, Pochi, Kuu, Neko, Chaba
80	Samoa	2007.09.24 ~ 2007.10.22	Carbonara, Teppei, Moriken, Pochi, Kuu, Neko, Chaba	Moriken ♥ Kuu
81	Mongolia	2007.10.29 ~ 2007.12.03	Carbonara, Teppei, Danny, Remi, Neko, Chaba
82	Germany	2007.12.03 ~ 2008.03.10	Carbonara, Miyakun, Danny, Ryou, Remi, Momo, Kuro, Seiji	Ryou ♥ Remi
83	Czech Republic	2008.03.10 ~ 2008.04.14	Umi, Seiji, Miyakun, Danny, Momo, Kuro, Yokko
84	Slovakia	2008.04.14 ~ 2008.04.21	Umi, Seiji, Miyakun, Danny, Momo, Kuro, Yokko
85	Republic of Ghana	2008.04.21	Umi, Seiji, Miyakun, Kousuke, Momo, Kuro, Yokko

[edit] Memorable Incidents

Although relationships between staff and participants are forbidden, some incidents involving staff have occurred:

A female participant fell in love with the tour guide, and when the bus stopped at the country's border (and she realized she'd never get to see him again) she begged the producers to let her confess her love. She did and the two became a couple
In spring of 2006, a female participant became smitten with the audio technician (even though the two had never talked, and the audio technicial had a girlfriend). This incident resulted in the female participant, a male participant who was in love with her, the audio technician, and a cameraman all returning to Japan

Other memorable incidents include:

In January 2006, a female participant broke down in tears and explained that three days before leaving for her Ainori trip, a male friend who she had long been harboring feelings for had finally confessed his love for her. She explained that she missed him terribly, could not get him out of her mind, and would likely not find love with any of the participants on Ainori, and thus left the show.
A female participant developed a physical ailment for which the doctor prohibited her from riding on the bus, or any other prolonged sitting position. Because of this, the only solution seemed that she would have to be sent home, and be eliminated from the show. However, the group came to the decision that they would ditch the bus, and walk for the rest of the trip (while carrying around all of their baggage), just so the girl could remain with them.
In the summer of 2006, during a break in shooting when participants were on vacation back home in Japan, a female participant discovered that the male participant that she was in love with had a girlfriend in Japan, and indeed had had a girlfriend when he left for his world trip (strictly against the rules of Ainori). After all the participants were back in Europe shooting the show, the man was confronted, finally confessed the truth to his bus-mates, and left the show to return to Japan.
In December 2006, a male participant proposed marriage to a female participant. She declined his offer, but did agree to go back to Japan with him to let their relationship develop.

[edit] Commentators

Masami Hisamoto - October 11, 1999 -
Kōji Imada - October 11, 1999 -
Haruhiko Katō - October 11, 1999 - March 20, 2006
Eiji Wentz - April 10, 2006 -

[edit] Trivia

To help prevent relationships between the staff and the participants, only staff members who are married or are already involved are chosen to work on the show
The second lap around the world started in May, 2003, and the 300th episode was aired on January 23, 2006.
39 couples have found love through the program, and there have been 7 marriages. On March 1, 2005, the first "Ainori Baby" was born, and as of mid-2006 there have been 2 babies born in total.
Year 2000 saw the most couples born (8 couples), followed by Year 2001 (7 couples). 2005 has seen the lowest number of couples born (3 couples).
Hit tunes such as ELT's "fragile", GLAY's "Way of Difference", and I WiSH's "ashita e no tobira" are used as the main theme music
The "love wagon", as the bus is nicknamed, is typically a Toyota High-Ace, painted pink with Ainori logos on it. However, when the bus breaks down, or local traffic regulations prevent the love wagon from being used, a locally-purchased Japanese van painted in the same way will often be substituted.
Although typically the couples are "born" on their world trip, in the summer of 2006, two separate couples (Goki/Outlaw and MIE/Suuzan) were formed after the participants went back to Japan and realized their feelings for each other there, and in February 2007, an "Ainori news special" told the story of another couple (Hide/Kayo) who got together after returning to Japan.