Ai Kago Officially Back

Ai Kago will be making her return to Japanese TV this Friday on Fuji TV

Former Morning Musume and super popular Japanese idol Ai Kago (加護亜衣) announced on her blog last Friday that she’s officially back in Japanese showbiz! Affectionately called “Aibon” or “Kago-chan” by her fans, the 20 year old cutie revealed she’ll make her first Japanese TV appearance since her second smoking scandal more than 2 years ago.

“Aibon” is back in the spotlight, this time as a serious actress and talent

Ai Kago is going to be the guest on Japanese showbiz icon Sanma Akashiya’s Fuji TV late night variety show “Sanma no Manma” (さんまのまんま) this Friday. On the show Aibon will talk about her downward spiral, her road to recovery, her succeeding in losing 22 pounds and her current status as a bona fide Japanese actress and “talent”. Aibon has recently returned from Hong Kong after completing her role in “Super Chef” (スーパーシェフ), her first movie since her comeback. The film will be shown in Hong Kong this fall and be in theaters in Japan next April.

If Ai Kago and Maki Goto got together, what would you name the unit?

Ai Kago has also began filming a historic suspense drama with NTV (Nippon TV) in the ancient capitol of Kyoto since returning to Japan.  She plays a princess and from the leaked press photos I’ve seen she looked absolutely adorable!  Upon her return she was asked about the rumor of her and former Morning Musume member Maki Goto (current AVEX artist) forming a new unit.  Aibon responded that it was also the first time for her to hear such speculation but she’d welcome it.

Sleepy John Hits Tokyo, Part 9

Here’s the last batch of my “random shots collection” from my recent trip to Japan. I hope you’ve enjoyed everything so far and rest assure I’ve got even more interesting photos from the Land of the Rising Sun coming your way soon so hang tight!

I was greeted by the hot and beautiful Japanese fashion model Yuri Ebihara (蛯原友里) aka “Ebi-chan” (エビちゃん) in the form of a McDonald’s poster soon after I arrived in Tokyo.

How could you not be in the mood for a Mac Chicken Wrap with black vinegar dressing after seeing this gorgeous Japanese specimen holding one?

The famous Akasaka Blitz, a medium sized live house venue similar to House of Blues in the States located in Akasaka (赤坂) in downtown Tokyo where so many famous Japanese musician have performed.

Spotted the latest single “Namida no Iro” (涙の色) from popular Hello!Project (ハロー!プロジェクト) unit C-ute on display in the local record store. I don’t know why but their earlier hit single “Tokaikko Junjo” (都会っ子 純情) kept playing in my head as I walked by the display.

Japanese AV promotional posters splashed the walls by the entrance to a store in Akihabara. Stay tuned because I’ve got a juicy special on that in the near future. Here’s a funny side note: As I was about to take these shots a young couple passed by. The girl told her man, “Go check it out. You want to go down there, don’t you?” The guy was actually a little hesitant at first but after being reassured he wouldn’t get into trouble he happily obliged and descended into happy land. How cool is that chick?!

This is the front entrance to the new TBS TV station headquarters in the posh district of Akasaka (赤坂). I was there to have lunch with a friend who works there (lucky bastard! He’s met his share of Japanese celebrities.) and to take in some good view of some fine Japanese girls. I can honestly say Akasaka is crawling with hot OL (office ladies) and other sexy females!

I could barely keep my dick in my pants as I took this stealth shot of some fine Japanese office ladies working at TBS leaving the building!

Obama Gets Love In Japan

That’s right, Barack Obama is big in Japan!

U.S. presidential hopeful and Democratic Party front runner Senator Barack Obama is getting support from the oddest place…in Japan! The city of Obama (小浜市), a small seaside town facing the Sea of Japan in Fukui Prefecture happens to share the same name with the charismatic candidate from Illinois and the residents there couldn’t be happier.

Lovely receptionists at Sekumi-ya Hotel in Obama, Fukui Prefecture show off a sign of well wishes to Barack Obama

The town which served as an important stop on the trade route to Japan’s ancient capital Kyoto in the old days first noticed the connection when Senator Obama appeared on Japanese TV TBS in 2006 recalling an immigration officer at Narita International Airport telling him that his home town is also called “Obama”. In case you haven’t noticed, in general it takes very little effort to get the Japanese excited about something and start a new craze since the society is very group oriented. And the small fishing town of 32,000 in western Japan has found their calling…to rally behind Barack Obama while selling all kinds of related souvenirs from t-shirts to chopsticks to cellphone straps.

“Thanks for pimpin’ my name…I’m gonna be rich, bitches!”

The people of the 1,500 year old town that used to be responsible for providing food to the emperor are taking this event quite seriously and have formed an official support group for Senator Obama. A representative in the lobby of Sekumi-ya Hotel where they have set up camp says, “I think our support base will keep growing. We wanted to do something because Mr. Obama doesn’t feel like a stranger to us. He’s like a relative to us.”

Seiji Fujihara (R), manager of Sekumiya Hotel in Obama, Japan points to a banner wishing good luck to presidential hopeful Barack Obama