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Ainori

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Ainori
logo
Narrated byYūji Machi
Country of originJapan
Original languageJapanese
Original release
NetworkFuji Television
ReleaseOctober 11, 1999 (1999-10-11) –
March 23, 2009 (2009-03-23)

Ainori (あいのり), literally "love ride" but can also be read "ride together" or "car pool", is a popular television program that runs Monday evenings from 11 pm in Japan on Fuji TV. It debuted on October 11, 1999. The show originally ended on March 23, 2009[1] but returned under the name "Ainori 2" on December 25, 2010,[2] running through April 30, 2011.

Ainori was revived by Fuji TV and Netflix beginning with Asian Journey,[3] which was first broadcast on the streaming platform in November 2017 and on Fuji TV in January 2018. Both media outlets also aired the second season of Asian Journey as well as the first season of African Journey, which was available on Netflix in late 2019 and on Fuji TV in early 2020.

Description

[edit]
Countries visited on Ainori

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 December 2008, the show has followed the bus across 90 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.

The First Lap Around the World ended in May, 2003, and the Second Lap ended in March, 2007. After that, the bus visits the countries which has never been visited on the show, without the route. The 400th episode was aired on May 5, 2008.

As of March, 2009, 44 couples have found love through the program, and there have been 8 marriages (though one couple has divorced). On March 1, 2005, the first "Ainori Baby" was born, and as of mid-2008 there have been 4 babies born in total.

Countries visited

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The First Lap

[edit]
# Country Air date Participants Couples
men women
0  Japan Oct 11 1999 (#1) Hory, Takaya, Kazu, Kin-chan
1  South Korea Oct 11 1999 (#1) -
Nov 15 1999 (#6) 		Hory, Takaya, Kazu, Kin-chan Okan, Midori, Ai Takaya ♥ Okan (1st)
2  People's Republic of China Nov 15 1999 (#6) -
Jan 17 2000 (#13) 		Hory, Kin-chan, Shingo, Inotchi, Fuku, Jun Midori, Ai, Tomo, Mio Hory ♥ Ai (2nd)
3  Vietnam Jan 17 2000 (#13) -
Feb 28 2000 (#19) 		Kin-chan, Inotchi, Fuku, Jun, Shū Midori, Tomo, Mio, Kyōko Inotchi ♥ Tomo (3rd)
4  Cambodia Feb 28 2000 (#19) -
Mar 13 2000 (#21) 		Kin-chan, Jun, Tā-kun, Satoshi Kyōko, Mie, Wakana Jun ♥ Kyōko (4th)
5  Thailand Mar 20 2000 (#22) -
May 8, 2000 (#27) 		Kin-chan, Tā-kun, Satoshi, Yūji Mie, Wakana, Sanae Kin-chan ♥ Midori (5th)*2
6  India May 15, 2000 (#28) -
Jun 26 2000 (#34) 		Sen-chan, Hisashi, GYO, Sunatchi, Haru Mariko, Miyuki, Tanabē, Yuki Hisashi ♥ Mariko (6th)*3
7  Turkey Jun 26 2000 (#34) -
Jul 24 2000 (#38) 		Sen-chan, GYO, Haru, Yassan Miyuki, Tanabē, Yuki GYO ♥ Miyuki (7th)
8  Bulgaria Jul 24 2000 (#38) -
Aug 07 2000 (#40) 		Sen-chan, Haru, Yassan, Ken'ichi Tanabē, Yuki, Devi Haru ♥ Yuki (8th)
9  Greece Aug 07 2000 (#40) -
Aug 28 2000 (#43) 		Sen-chan, Yassan, Ken'ichi Tanabē, Devi
10  Italy Aug 28 2000 (#43) -
Sep 25 2000 (#47) 		Sen-chan, Ken'ichi, Fujiwara-kun, Gō, Paolo*1 Devi, Nao, Chinatsu
11  France Sep 25 2000 (#47) -
Nov 13 2000 (#53) 		Sen-chan, Ken'ichi, Fujiwara-kun, Gō, Seki-chan Devi, Nao, Chinatsu, Eri Sen-chan ♥ Devi (9th)
Fujiwara-kun ♥ Nao (10th)
12  Spain Nov 13 2000 (#53) -
Dec 18 2000 (#58) 		Ken'ichi, Gō, Seki-chan, Tsune, Takashi Chinatsu, Eri, Yūko, Hitomi
13  Morocco Dec 18 2000 (#58) -
Jan 15 2001 (#61) 		Gō, Seki-chan, Tsune, Takashi Eri, Yūko, Hitomi Gō ♥ Eri (11th)
14  Brazil Jan 22 2001 (#62) -
Feb 26 2001 (#66) 		Seki-chan, Takashi, Ken, Sasayan Yūko, Hitomi, Ogu Sasayan ♥ Yūko (12th)
15  Paraguay Feb 26 2001 (#66) Seki-chan, Takashi, Ken Hitomi, Ogu
16  Argentina Mar 05 2001 (#67) -
Apr 03 2001 (#71) 		Seki-chan, Takashi, Ken, Naoya Hitomi, Ogu, Keiko Ken ♥ Keiko (13th)
17  Chile Apr 03 2001 (#71) -
Apr 30 2001 (#75) 		Seki-chan, Takashi, Naoya Hitomi, Ogu, Ringo Takashi ♥ Ogu (14th)
18  Bolivia Apr 30 2001 (#75) -
May 21, 2001 (#78) 		Seki-chan, Naoya, Daisuke, Match-bō(Yamasaki) Ringo, Yū, Tsutchy
19  Peru May 21, 2001 (#78) -
Jul 02 2001 (#84) 		Seki-chan, Naoya, Daisuke, Match-bō, Yōsei Ringo, Yū, Tsutchy, Natchan
20  Ecuador Jul 02 2001 (#84) -
Aug 13 2001 (#90) 		Seki-chan, Naoya, Daisuke, Yōsei Yū, Tsutchy, Natchan
21  Panama Aug 13 2001 (#90) -
Sep 24 2001 (#95) 		Seki-chan, Daisuke, Yōsei, Yasu Natchan, Akky, Yūka Yōsei ♥ Akky (15th)
22  Costa Rica Oct 02 2001 (#96) Seki-chan, Daisuke, Yasu, Reggae Natchan, Yūka Daisuke ♥ Natchan (16th)
23  Jamaica Oct 02 2001 (#96) -
Nov 05 2001 (#100) 		Seki-chan, Yasu, Reggae, Tobi Yūka, Ai, Vivi Seki-chan ♥ Yūka (17th)
24  Cuba Nov 12 2001 (#101) -
Dec 17 2001 (#106) 		Yasu, Reggae, Tobi, Yoshi-chan Vivi, Mizuho, Yukinē
25  Honduras Dec 17 2001 (#106) -
Jan 07 2002 (#108) 		Reggae, Tobi, Yoshi-chan, Take Vivi, Mizuho, Yukinē
26  Guatemala Jan 07 2002 (#108) -
Feb 18 2002 (#114) 		Reggae, Tobi, Yoshi-chan, Take Vivi, Mizuho, Yukinē Tobi ♥ Vivi (18th)
27  Belize Feb 18 2002 (#114) -
Mar 11 2002 (#116) 		Reggae, Yoshi-chan, TAKA Mizuho, Yukinē, Mika
28  Mexico Mar 11 2002 (#116) -
Jun 24 2002 (#128) 		Reggae, Yoshi-chan, TAKA, Tiger Yukinē, Mika, Megu Tiger ♥ Megu (19th)
TAKA ♥ Mika (20th)
29  New Zealand Jul 01 2002 (#129) -
Aug 05 2002 (#134) 		Nan-chan, Kōta, Keisuke, Tomokun Osugi, Yuri, Wakana
30  Australia Aug 05 2002 (#134) -
Oct 14 2002 (#143) 		Nan-chan, Kōta, Keisuke, Daijō Osugi, Yuri, Wakana, Yukachin Keisuke ♥ Osugi (21st)
Daijō ♥ Yuri (22nd)
31  Papua New Guinea Oct 21 2002 (#144) -
Nov 18 2002 (#148) 		Nan-chan, Kōta, Tetsu, Tsunayoshi Yukachin, Miho, Reika
32  Tonga Nov 25 2002 (#149) -
Dec 02 2002 (#150) 		Nan-chan, Kōta, Tetsu, Kazu-kun Yukachin, Miho, Reika
33  Fiji Dec 02 2002 (#150) -
Dec 23 2002 (#153) 		Nan-chan, Kōta, Tetsu, Kazu-kun Yukachin, Miho, Reika
34  Nicaragua Dec 29 2002 (#154) -
Feb 03 2003 (#159) 		Kōta, Tetsu, Kazu-kun Yukachin, Miho, Reika Kōta ♥ Miho (23rd)
35  United States Feb 03 2003 (#159) -
Apr 21 2003 (#168) 		Kazu-kun, Miyaken, Takurō, Asa-chan, Dobokun Yukachin, Saki, Marippe, Gachapin Kazu-kun ♥ Yukachin (24th)
Takurō ♥ Marippe (25th)
36  Canada Apr 21 2003 (#168) -
May 19, 2003 (#172) 		Miyaken, Asa-chan, Dobokun, Tazy Saki, Gachapin, Mikan Dobokun ♥ Saki (26th)
  • *1 : Paolo is a native person who participants met in the youth hostel in Italy. He could speak Japanese because he had stayed in Japan for one year.[4]
  • *2 : Once Midori had been jilted by Kin-chan, and been back to Japan from Vietnam. After that, she received a letter from him, and visited Thailand to meet him again there.[5]
  • *3 : Once Hisashi had been jilted by Mariko, and been back to Japan. But Mariko gave up the trip to meet Hisashi again in Japan.[6]

The Second Lap

[edit]
# Country Air date Participants Couples
men women
37  Philippines May 26, 2003 (#173) -
Jun 30 2003 (#178) 		Miyaken, Asa-chan, Tazy, DAI Gachapin, Mikan, Yukky, Michelle*1
38  Indonesia Jun 30 2003 (#178) -
Jul 28 2003 (#182) 		Asa-chan, Tazy, DAI, Boxer Gachapin, Yukky, Eiko, Sakura
39  Brunei Jul 28 2003 (#182) -
Aug 04 2003 (#183) 		Asa-chan, DAI, Boxer, Shima Gachapin, Eiko, Sakura
40  Malaysia Aug 04 2003 (#183) -
Aug 11 2003 (#184) &
Aug 25 2003 (#186) 		Asa-chan, DAI, Boxer, Shima Gachapin, Eiko, Sakura
41  Singapore Aug 11 2003 (#184) -
Aug 18 2003 (#185) 		Asa-chan, DAI, Boxer, Shima Gachapin, Eiko, Sakura DAI ♥ Gachapin (27th)
42  Myanmar Sep 01 2003 (#187) -
Oct 13 2003 (#192) 		Asa-chan, Boxer, Shima, Sōta, Hassy Eiko, Sakura, Rii
43  Bhutan Oct 20 2003 (#193) -
Dec 01 2003 (#198) 		Sōta, Hassy, Hayato Sakura, Rii, Yūmin
44  Nepal Dec 01 2003 (#198) -
Jan 12 2004 (#203) 		Asa-chan, Hassy, Hayato, Kōei Rii, Yūmin, Kaji
45  Sri Lanka Jan 12 2004 (#203) -
Feb 16 2004 (#208) 		Asa-chan, Hassy, Hayato, Kōei Yūmin, Kaji, Miki
46  Madagascar Feb 23 2004 (#209) -
Apr 01 2004 (#214) 		Asa-chan, Hayato, Kōei, Haolong Yūmin, Kaji, Miki
47  South Africa Apr 01 2004 (#214) -
May 17, 2004 (#220) 		Hayato, Kōei, Haolong, Hakase Yūmin, Kaji, Miki, Juri Hayato ♥ Yūmin (28th)
Kōei ♥ Miki (29th)
Dominic (Driver) ♥ Kaji (30th)
48  Botswana May 17, 2004 (#220) -
Jun 07 2004 (#223) 		Haolong, Hakase, Takky, Ryō Juri, Yuka, Numatchi
49  Namibia Jun 14 2004 (#224) -
Jul 19 2004 (#229) 		Hakase, Takky, Ryō, Junpei Juri, Yuka, Numatchi Ryō ♥ Juri (31st)
50  Malawi Jul 19 2004 (#229) -
Aug 30 2004 (#235) 		Takky, Junpei, Yū-kun, Hide Yuka, Numatchi, Seriha
51  Tanzania Sep 06 2004 (#236) -
Oct 18 2004 (#241) 		Junpei, Yū-kun, Hide, Itchy Numatchi, Seriha, Kayo,
Pendo*1
52  Kenya Oct 18 2004 (#241) -
Nov 22 2004 (#246) 		Junpei, Yū-kun, Hide, Itchy Seriha, Kayo, Ōse
53  Ethiopia Nov 22 2004 (#246) -
Jan 27 2005 (#252) 		Junpei, Yū-kun, Hide, Itchy, Haisha Seriha, Ōse, Salt Itchy ♥ Seriha (32nd)
54  Cameroon Jan 10 2005 (#252) -
Feb 14 2005 (#257) 		Junpei, Yū-kun, Hide, Bukurō Ōse, Salt, Riko
55  Tunisia Feb 14 2005 (#257) -
Apr 11 2005 (#263) 		Yū-kun, Hide, Bukurō, Kōji Ōse, Salt, Riko Yū-kun ♥ Riko (33rd)
56  Egypt Apr 11 2005 (#263) -
May 16, 2005 (#268) 		Hide, Bukurō, Kōji, Arashi Ōse, Mikarin, Omami Bukurō ♥ Ōse (34th)
57  Oman May 16, 2005 (#268) -
Jun 13 2005 (#272) 		Hide, Kōji, Arashi, Susan Mikarin, Omami, Takano
58  United Arab Emirates Jun 13 2005 (#272) -
Jul 18 2005 (#277) 		Hide, Kōji, Arashi, Susan Mikarin, Takano, Natchi
59  Qatar Jul 25 2005 (#278) -
Aug 01 2005 (#279) 		Hide, Arashi, Susan, tk Mikarin, Takano
60  Bahrain Aug 01 2005 (#279) -
Sep 05 2005 (#284) 		Hide, Arashi, Susan, tk Mikarin, Omami, Takano
61  Russia Sep 12 2005 (#285) -
Oct 17 2005 (#288) 		Hide, Arashi, Susan, tk MIE, Ume-chan, Aya
62  Ukraine Oct 17 2005 (#288) -
Nov 28 2005 (#294) 		Hide, Arashi, Susan, tk MIE, Ume-chan, Aya
63  Romania Nov 28 2005 (#294) -
Jan 16 2006 (#299) 		Hide, Arashi, Susan, Alec MIE, Ume-chan, Aya Arashi ♥ Aya (35th)
64  Hungary Jan 16 2006 (#299) -
Mar 06 2006 (#305) 		Susan, Alec, Tagami-kun, Outlaw MIE, Izumi, Hisayon,
Andy*1
65  Austria Mar 13 2006 (#306) -
Apr 24 2006 (#310) 		Susan, Alec, Tagami-kun, Outlaw Izumi, Hisayon, Goki
66  Liechtenstein Apr 24 2006 (#310) Susan, Tagami-kun, Outlaw Izumi, Hisayon, Goki
67  Switzerland Apr 24 2006 (#310) -
Jun 19 2006 (#318) 		Susan, Tagami-kun, Outlaw, Sōri Izumi, Hisayon, Goki Outlaw ♥ Goki*2
Susan ♥ MIE (36th)*3
68  Croatia Jul 03 2006 (#320) -
Jul 24 2006 (#323) 		Tagami-kun, Sōri, Tachi, Uekki Hisayon, Chaki, Yankumi
69  Bosnia and Herzegovina Jul 31 2006 (#324) -
Aug 28 2006 (#328) 		Sōri, Tachi, Uekki, Yokomī Hisayon, Chaki, Yankumi
70  Poland Sep 04 2006 (#329) -
Oct 23 2006 (#334) 		Tachi, Uekki, Yokomī, San-chan Chaki, Yankumi, Junko Tachi ♥ Junko (37th)
71  Sweden Oct 30 2006 (#335) -
Dec 04 2006 (#340) 		Uekki, Yokomī, San-chan, ISSY Chaki, Yankumi, Nagisa Uekki ♥ Chaki (38th)
72  Norway Dec 11 2006 (#341) -
Jan 29 2007 (#346) 		Yokomī, San-chan, ISSY, Gla-san Yankumi, Nagisa, Bambi
73  Iceland Feb 12 2007 (#348) -
Mar 19 2007 (#352) 		San-chan, ISSY, Gla-san, Moriken Nagisa, Bambi, Miyanē ISSY ♥ Nagisa (39th)
  • *1 : Michele, Pendo, and Andy are native persons. Michele was a special participant as the commemoration of the Second Lap. Pendo and Andy took part in the trip during a single episode.
  • *2 : In the episode #315, Outlaw gave up the trip because of the mistake by the staff, and Goki also did. But in the episode #317, they reported that they had met again in Japan and had started to love each other.[7] Although they are not counted as an official couple of the program.
  • *3 : Once MIE had been jilted by Susan, and been back to Japan from Hungary. But in Switzerland Susan gave up the trip and returned to Japan to meet her again.[8]

The Indefinite Travel (after the Second Lap)

[edit]
# Country Air date Participants Couples
men women
74  Dominican Republic Apr 09 2007 (#353) -
May 7, 2007 (#357) 		San-chan, Gla-san, Moriken, Oga Bambi, Miyanē, Hiroe
75  Trinidad and Tobago May 21, 2007 (#359) -
May 28 2007 (#360) 		San-chan, Gla-san, Moriken, Oga Miyanē, Hiroe, Neko
76  Suriname Jun 04 2007 (#361) -
Jun 18 2007 (#363) 		San-chan, Gla-san, Moriken, Oga Miyanē, Hiroe, Neko
77  Venezuela Jun 18 2007 (#363) -
Jul 30 2007 (#368) 		Gla-san, Moriken, Oga, Hiderinko Miyanē, Hiroe, Neko
78  Taiwan Aug 06 2007 (#369) -
Sep 03 2007 (#373) 		Gla-san, Moriken, Teppei, Pochi Hiroe, Neko, Kuu
79  Tuvalu Sep 03 2007 (#373) -
Sep 17 2007 (#375) 		Moriken, Teppei, Pochi Neko, Kuu, Chaba
80  Samoa Sep 24 2007 (#376) -
Oct 22 2007 (#378) 		Moriken, Teppei, Pochi, Carbonara Neko, Kuu, Chaba Moriken ♥ Kuu (40th)
81  Mongolia Oct 29 2007 (#379) -
Nov 26 2007 (#383) 		Teppei, Carbonara, Danny Neko, Chaba, Remi
82  Germany Dec 03 2007 (#384) -
Mar 10 2008 (#394) 		Carbonara, Danny, Miya-kun, Ryō, Seiji Remi, Momo, Kuro Ryō ♥ Remi (41st)
83  Czech Republic Mar 10 2008 (#395) -
Apr 14 2008 (#398) 		Danny, Miya-kun, Seiji, Umi Momo, Kuro, Yokko
84  Slovakia Apr 14 2008 (#398) Danny, Miya-kun, Seiji, Umi Momo, Kuro, Yokko
85  Ghana Apr 21 2008 (#399) -
May 26, 2008 (#403) 		Miya-kun, Seiji, Umi, Kōsuke Momo, Kuro, Yokko
86  Benin May 26, 2008 (#403) -
Jul 28 2008 (#412) 		Miya-kun, Umi, Kōsuke, Shrek Momo, Kuro, Yokko
87  Mali Aug 04 2008 (#413) -
Aug 25 2008 (#416) 		Umi, Kōsuke, Shrek Momo, Yokko, Yamaji
88  Laos Sep 02 2008 (#417) -
Nov 03 2008 (#424) 		Kōsuke, Shrek, Umeo, Gōya Momo, Yokko, Yamaji Kōsuke ♥ Yokko (42nd)
89  Jordan Nov 03 2008 (#424) -
Dec 15 2008 (#430) 		Shrek, Umeo, Gōya, Tadatchi Momo, Yamaji, Māmin Umeo ♥ Momo (43rd)
90  Cyprus Dec 22 2008 (#431) -
Feb 9 2009 (#436) 		Shrek, Gōya, Tadatchi, Wrestler (Ryouji Sai) Yamaji, Māmin, Hime
91  Denmark Feb 9 2009 (#436) -
Mar 23 2009 (#441) 		Shrek, Gōya, Tadatchi, Wrestler Māmin, Hime, Garlic Gōya ♥ Hime (44th)
92  Netherlands Mar 23 2009 (#441) Shrek, Tadatchi, Wrestler, Shun Māmin, Garlic, Shihonosuke

Ainori 2

[edit]
# Country Air date Participants Couples
men women
01  Bangladesh Dec 25 2010 (#001) -
Apr 30 2011 (#010) 		Denji, Kawahei, Kobacchi, Gorilla, Keeper, Takkan Asami, Yamaji, Chamu, Yui, Hakamai Kobacchi ♥ Asami (45th)
Kawahei ♥ Chamu (46th)

Ainori: Asian Journey (Netflix)

[edit]
# Country Air date Participants Couples
men women
01  Vietnam Nov 26 2017 (#001) -
Apr 22 2018 (#022) 		Yuchan, Wedding, Hatomune, Taka Yumechin, Depparin, Asuka
02 Myanmar Myanmar Nov 26 2017 (#001) -
Apr 22 2018 (#022) 		Yuchan, Wedding, Hatomune, ShyBoy Yumechin, Depparin, Asuka
03 Taiwan Taiwan Nov 26 2017 (#001) -
Apr 22 2018 (#022) 		Yuchan, Wedding, Hatomune, ShyBoy, Akira (later) Depparin, Asuka, Kasuga
04 Thailand Thailand Nov 26 2017 (#001) -
Apr 22 2018 (#022) 		Yuchan, ShyBoy, Akira, Tom Asuka, Kasuga, Kanya Yuchan & Asuka (1st)
05 Malaysia Malaysia Nov 26 2017 (#001) -
Apr 22 2018 (#022) 		ShyBoy, Akira, Tom, Shacho Kasuga, Kanya, Yuchan ShyBoy & Kasuga (2nd)
06 Singapore Singapore Nov 26 2017 (#001) -
Apr 22 2018 (#022) 		Akira, Tom, Shacho Kanya, Yuchan

Ainori: Asian Journey Season 2 (Netflix)

# Country Participants Couples
men women
07 India India - Mumbaj, bengaluru, Kochi, kovalam Tom, Miyanma, Dr Morimori, Isamuchan Yuchan, Moa, Depparin no match
08 Nepal Nepal - Katmand, Dźanakpuru Hidekun, Tom, Miyanma, Dr Morimori Yuchan, Moa, Depparin Yuchan&Miyanma (1st in season, 4th in program)
09 Uzbekistan Uzbekistan - Tashkent, Samarkanda Hidekun, Tom, Dr Morimori, Al Moa, Depparin, Sakurako Dr Morimori&Moa (2nd in season, 5th in program)
10 Kazakhstan Kazachstan - Astan Hidekun, Tom , Al, Junki Mya, Depparin, Sakurako No match
11 Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan Hidekun, Tom, Junki, Taizo Mya, Depparin, Sakurako Depparin&Junki (3rd in season, 6th in program)

Ainori: African Journey (Netflix)

[edit]
# Country Participants Couples
Men Women
01 Kenya Kenya Shu-mai, U-zi, O-ji, Haribo Su-su, Husky, Kou No match
02 Uganda Uganda Shu-Mai. O-ji, Haribo, Hide Su-su, Husky, Kou Su-su & Haribo (1st in season, 1st in program)
03 RwandaRwanda Shu-Mai, O-ji, Hide, Joykun Husky, Kou, Yuina No match
04 TanzaniaTanzania Shu-Mai, Hide, Joykun, Genove Husky, Yuina, Aonyan Genove & Aonyan (2nd in season, 2nd in program)

Joykun & Husky (3rd in season, 3rd in program)

Memorable incidents

[edit]

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

  • In South Africa, 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 got intimate with the audio technician (even though the two had never talked, and the audio technician 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 Costa Rica, three male participants were arrested by the police for exposing their buttocks to children. After five hours they were released by the staff's persuasion.[9]
  • After leaving Costa Rica, the program avoided Nicaragua because of insecurity of the political condition, and visited Jamaica. But the Nicaraguan ambassador in Japan made a protest against the program. So the program visited Nicaragua after leaving Fiji. The participants were welcomed as the sightseeing goodwill ambassadors.[10]
  • 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 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.
  • 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.

Fundraising

[edit]

Since April 2004, the program started the fundraising campaign called Ainori Bokin (Ainori Fundraising). This is a donation for poor countries visited in the program. The money has been mainly used for children living in these countries, and the schools called Ainori Gakko (Ainori School) have been built.[11]

Commentators

[edit]

Trivia

[edit]
  • 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.
  • 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 Hiace, 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/Susan) were formed after the participants returned 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.

International versions

[edit]

Vietnam

[edit]

The Vietnamese version is called "Hành trình kết nối những trái tim" ("Journey to match hearts"), or "Love bus", was broadcast in December 2008, becoming a high rated show of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi Television. It is originally aired every Tuesday at 10PM.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "地球無期限の旅に節目！「あいのり」が終了 - 芸能 - Sanspo.com". Archived from the original on 2009-01-18. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  2. ^ "Facing Slow PC".
  3. ^ "Ainori: Love Wagon". YouTube. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
  4. ^ Ainori episode #43 Archived 2012-03-02 at the Wayback Machine(in Japanese)
  5. ^ Ainori episode #27 Archived 2011-01-30 at the Wayback Machine(in Japanese)
  6. ^ Ainori episode #31 Archived 2012-03-02 at the Wayback Machine(in Japanese)
  7. ^ Ainori episode #317 Archived 2006-06-29 at the Wayback Machine(in Japanese)
  8. ^ Ainori episode #319 Archived 2012-03-02 at the Wayback Machine(in Japanese)
  9. ^ Ainori episode #96 Archived 2012-03-02 at the Wayback Machine (in Japanese)
  10. ^ Ainori episode #154 Archived 2012-03-02 at the Wayback Machine (in Japanese)
  11. ^ Ainori Bokin Archived 2008-11-03 at the Wayback Machine (in Japanese)
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