, 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 but returned under the name "Ainori 2" on December 25, 2010, running through April 30, 2011.
Ainori was revived by Fuji TV and Netflix beginning with Asian Journey, 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
Ainori is a reality program where seven young men and women travel the world riding a pink bus nicknamed the "Love Wagon". 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. 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.
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. Songs 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
Countries visited
The First Lap #CountryAir dateParticipantsCouplesmenwomen0Oct 11 1999 (#1)Hory, Takaya, Kazu, Kin-chan1Oct 11 1999 (#1) -Nov 15 1999 (#6)Hory, Takaya, Kazu, Kin-chanOkan, Midori, AiTakaya ♥ Okan (1st)2Nov 15 1999 (#6) -Jan 17 2000 (#13)Hory, Kin-chan, Shingo, Inotchi, Fuku, JunMidori, Ai, Tomo, MioHory ♥ Ai (2nd)3Jan 17 2000 (#13) -Feb 28 2000 (#19)Kin-chan, Inotchi, Fuku, Jun, ShūMidori, Tomo, Mio, KyōkoInotchi ♥ Tomo (3rd)4Feb 28 2000 (#19) -Mar 13 2000 (#21)Kin-chan, Jun, Tā-kun, SatoshiKyōko, Mie, WakanaJun ♥ Kyōko (4th)5Mar 20 2000 (#22) -May 8, 2000 (#27)Kin-chan, Tā-kun, Satoshi, YūjiMie, Wakana, SanaeKin-chan ♥ Midori (5th)*26May 15, 2000 (#28) -Jun 26 2000 (#34)Sen-chan, Hisashi, GYO, Sunatchi, HaruMariko, Miyuki, Tanabē, YukiHisashi ♥ Mariko (6th)*37Jun 26 2000 (#34) -Jul 24 2000 (#38)Sen-chan, GYO, Haru, YassanMiyuki, Tanabē, YukiGYO ♥ Miyuki (7th)8Jul 24 2000 (#38) -Aug 07 2000 (#40)Sen-chan, Haru, Yassan, Ken'ichiTanabē, Yuki, DeviHaru ♥ Yuki (8th)9Aug 07 2000 (#40) -Aug 28 2000 (#43)Sen-chan, Yassan, Ken'ichiTanabē, Devi10Aug 28 2000 (#43) -Sep 25 2000 (#47)Sen-chan, Ken'ichi, Fujiwara-kun, Gō, Paolo*1Devi, Nao, Chinatsu11Sep 25 2000 (#47) -Nov 13 2000 (#53)Sen-chan, Ken'ichi, Fujiwara-kun, Gō, Seki-chanDevi, Nao, Chinatsu, EriSen-chan ♥ Devi (9th)Fujiwara-kun ♥ Nao (10th)12Nov 13 2000 (#53) -Dec 18 2000 (#58)Ken'ichi, Gō, Seki-chan, Tsune, TakashiChinatsu, Eri, Yūko, Hitomi13Dec 18 2000 (#58) -Jan 15 2001 (#61)Gō, Seki-chan, Tsune, TakashiEri, Yūko, HitomiGō ♥ Eri (11th)14Jan 22 2001 (#62) -Feb 26 2001 (#66)Seki-chan, Takashi, Ken, SasayanYūko, Hitomi, OguSasayan ♥ Yūko (12th)15Feb 26 2001 (#66)Seki-chan, Takashi, KenHitomi, Ogu16Mar 05 2001 (#67) -Apr 03 2001 (#71)Seki-chan, Takashi, Ken, NaoyaHitomi, Ogu, KeikoKen ♥ Keiko (13th)17Apr 03 2001 (#71) -Apr 30 2001 (#75)Seki-chan, Takashi, NaoyaHitomi, Ogu, RingoTakashi ♥ Ogu (14th)18Apr 30 2001 (#75) -May 21, 2001 (#78)Seki-chan, Naoya, Daisuke, Match-bō(Yamasaki)Ringo, Yū, Tsutchy19May 21, 2001 (#78) -Jul 02 2001 (#84)Seki-chan, Naoya, Daisuke, Match-bō, YōseiRingo, Yū, Tsutchy, Natchan20Jul 02 2001 (#84) -Aug 13 2001 (#90)Seki-chan, Naoya, Daisuke, YōseiYū, Tsutchy, Natchan21Aug 13 2001 (#90) -Sep 24 2001 (#95)Seki-chan, Daisuke, Yōsei, YasuNatchan, Akky, YūkaYōsei ♥ Akky (15th)22Oct 02 2001 (#96)Seki-chan, Daisuke, Yasu, ReggaeNatchan, YūkaDaisuke ♥ Natchan (16th)23Oct 02 2001 (#96) -Nov 05 2001 (#100)Seki-chan, Yasu, Reggae, TobiYūka, Ai, ViviSeki-chan ♥ Yūka (17th)24Nov 12 2001 (#101) -Dec 17 2001 (#106)Yasu, Reggae, Tobi, Yoshi-chanVivi, Mizuho, Yukinē25Dec 17 2001 (#106) -Jan 07 2002 (#108)Reggae, Tobi, Yoshi-chan, TakeVivi, Mizuho, Yukinē26Jan 07 2002 (#108) -Feb 18 2002 (#114)Reggae, Tobi, Yoshi-chan, TakeVivi, Mizuho, YukinēTobi ♥ Vivi (18th)27Feb 18 2002 (#114) -Mar 11 2002 (#116)Reggae, Yoshi-chan, TAKAMizuho, Yukinē, Mika28Mar 11 2002 (#116) -Jun 24 2002 (#128)Reggae, Yoshi-chan, TAKA, TigerYukinē, Mika, MeguTiger ♥ Megu (19th)TAKA ♥ Mika (20th)29Jul 01 2002 (#129) -Aug 05 2002 (#134)Nan-chan, Kōta, Keisuke, TomokunOsugi, Yuri, Wakana30Aug 05 2002 (#134) -Oct 14 2002 (#143)Nan-chan, Kōta, Keisuke, DaijōOsugi, Yuri, Wakana, YukachinKeisuke ♥ Osugi (21st)Daijō ♥ Yuri (22nd)31Oct 21 2002 (#144) -Nov 18 2002 (#148)Nan-chan, Kōta, Tetsu, TsunayoshiYukachin, Miho, Reika32Nov 25 2002 (#149) -Dec 02 2002 (#150)Nan-chan, Kōta, Tetsu, Kazu-kunYukachin, Miho, Reika33Dec 02 2002 (#150) -Dec 23 2002 (#153)Nan-chan, Kōta, Tetsu, Kazu-kunYukachin, Miho, Reika34Dec 29 2002 (#154) -Feb 03 2003 (#159)Kōta, Tetsu, Kazu-kunYukachin, Miho, ReikaKōta ♥ Miho (23rd)35Feb 03 2003 (#159) -Apr 21 2003 (#168)Kazu-kun, Miyaken, Takurō, Asa-chan, DobokunYukachin, Saki, Marippe, GachapinKazu-kun ♥ Yukachin (24th)Takurō ♥ Marippe (25th)36Apr 21 2003 (#168) -May 19, 2003 (#172)Miyaken, Asa-chan, Dobokun, TazySaki, Gachapin, MikanDobokun ♥ 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.Ainori episode #43 *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.Ainori episode #27 *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.Ainori episode #31
The Second Lap #CountryAir dateParticipantsCouplesmenwomen37May 26, 2003 (#173) -Jun 30 2003 (#178)Miyaken, Asa-chan, Tazy, DAIGachapin, Mikan, Yukky, Michelle*138Jun 30 2003 (#178) -Jul 28 2003 (#182)Asa-chan, Tazy, DAI, BoxerGachapin, Yukky, Eiko, Sakura39Jul 28 2003 (#182) -Aug 04 2003 (#183)Asa-chan, DAI, Boxer, ShimaGachapin, Eiko, Sakura40Aug 04 2003 (#183) -Aug 11 2003 (#184) &Aug 25 2003 (#186)Asa-chan, DAI, Boxer, ShimaGachapin, Eiko, Sakura41Aug 11 2003 (#184) -Aug 18 2003 (#185)Asa-chan, DAI, Boxer, ShimaGachapin, Eiko, SakuraDAI ♥ Gachapin (27th)42Sep 01 2003 (#187) -Oct 13 2003 (#192)Asa-chan, Boxer, Shima, Sōta, HassyEiko, Sakura, Rii43Oct 20 2003 (#193) -Dec 01 2003 (#198)Sōta, Hassy, HayatoSakura, Rii, Yūmin44Dec 01 2003 (#198) -Jan 12 2004 (#203)Asa-chan, Hassy, Hayato, KōeiRii, Yūmin, Kaji45Jan 12 2004 (#203) -Feb 16 2004 (#208)Asa-chan, Hassy, Hayato, KōeiYūmin, Kaji, Miki46Feb 23 2004 (#209) -Apr 01 2004 (#214)Asa-chan, Hayato, Kōei, HaolongYūmin, Kaji, Miki47Apr 01 2004 (#214) -May 17, 2004 (#220)Hayato, Kōei, Haolong, HakaseYūmin, Kaji, Miki, JuriHayato ♥ Yūmin (28th)Kōei ♥ Miki (29th)Dominic (Driver) ♥ Kaji (30th)48May 17, 2004 (#220) -Jun 07 2004 (#223)Haolong, Hakase, Takky, RyōJuri, Yuka, Numatchi49Jun 14 2004 (#224) -Jul 19 2004 (#229)Hakase, Takky, Ryō, JunpeiJuri, Yuka, NumatchiRyō ♥ Juri (31st)50Jul 19 2004 (#229) -Aug 30 2004 (#235)Takky, Junpei, Yū-kun, HideYuka, Numatchi, Seriha51Sep 06 2004 (#236) -Oct 18 2004 (#241)Junpei, Yū-kun, Hide, ItchyNumatchi, Seriha, Kayo,Pendo*152Oct 18 2004 (#241) -Nov 22 2004 (#246)Junpei, Yū-kun, Hide, ItchySeriha, Kayo, Ōse53Nov 22 2004 (#246) -Jan 27 2005 (#252)Junpei, Yū-kun, Hide, Itchy, HaishaSeriha, Ōse, SaltItchy ♥ Seriha (32nd)54Jan 10 2005 (#252) -Feb 14 2005 (#257)Junpei, Yū-kun, Hide, BukurōŌse, Salt, Riko55Feb 14 2005 (#257) -Apr 11 2005 (#263)Yū-kun, Hide, Bukurō, KōjiŌse, Salt, RikoYū-kun ♥ Riko (33rd)56Apr 11 2005 (#263) -May 16, 2005 (#268)Hide, Bukurō, Kōji, ArashiŌse, Mikarin, OmamiBukurō ♥ Ōse (34th)57May 16, 2005 (#268) -Jun 13 2005 (#272)Hide, Kōji, Arashi, SusanMikarin, Omami, Takano58Jun 13 2005 (#272) -Jul 18 2005 (#277)Hide, Kōji, Arashi, SusanMikarin, Takano, Natchi59Jul 25 2005 (#278) -Aug 01 2005 (#279) Hide, Arashi, Susan, tkMikarin, Takano60Aug 01 2005 (#279) -Sep 05 2005 (#284)Hide, Arashi, Susan, tkMikarin, Omami, Takano61Sep 12 2005 (#285) -Oct 17 2005 (#288)Hide, Arashi, Susan, tkMIE, Ume-chan, Aya62Oct 17 2005 (#288) -Nov 28 2005 (#294)Hide, Arashi, Susan, tkMIE, Ume-chan, Aya63Nov 28 2005 (#294) -Jan 16 2006 (#299)Hide, Arashi, Susan, AlecMIE, Ume-chan, AyaArashi ♥ Aya (35th)64Jan 16 2006 (#299) -Mar 06 2006 (#305)Susan, Alec, Tagami-kun, OutlawMIE, Izumi, Hisayon,Andy*165Mar 13 2006 (#306) -Apr 24 2006 (#310)Susan, Alec, Tagami-kun, OutlawIzumi, Hisayon, Goki66Apr 24 2006 (#310)Susan, Tagami-kun, OutlawIzumi, Hisayon, Goki67Apr 24 2006 (#310) -Jun 19 2006 (#318)Susan, Tagami-kun, Outlaw, SōriIzumi, Hisayon, GokiOutlaw ♥ Goki*2Susan ♥ MIE (36th)*368Jul 03 2006 (#320) -Jul 24 2006 (#323)Tagami-kun, Sōri, Tachi, UekkiHisayon, Chaki, Yankumi69Jul 31 2006 (#324) -Aug 28 2006 (#328)Sōri, Tachi, Uekki, YokomīHisayon, Chaki, Yankumi70Sep 04 2006 (#329) -Oct 23 2006 (#334)Tachi, Uekki, Yokomī, San-chanChaki, Yankumi, JunkoTachi ♥ Junko (37th)71Oct 30 2006 (#335) -Dec 04 2006 (#340)Uekki, Yokomī, San-chan, ISSYChaki, Yankumi, NagisaUekki ♥ Chaki (38th)72Dec 11 2006 (#341) -Jan 29 2007 (#346)Yokomī, San-chan, ISSY, Gla-sanYankumi, Nagisa, Bambi73Feb 12 2007 (#348) -Mar 19 2007 (#352)San-chan, ISSY, Gla-san, MorikenNagisa, Bambi, MiyanēISSY ♥ 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.