“Ainori” drives to DVD

Fuji TV’s popular variety show “Renai Kansatsu Variety Ainori,” popularly known just as “Ainori,” is finally coming to DVD. The show came to an end in March 2009 after almost ten years on the air, during which it averaged an impressive 15.3% rating in a late-night Monday time slot.

The show was known by its iconic “love wagon,” a pink bus that transported a group of seven men and women through various countries. Each participant was a young single, hoping to find love with one of the others. At any time, participants could take the risk of confessing their love to someone, returning to Japan either happy (along with their new partner) or heartbroken.

Pony Canyon has decided to release the show as a 6-disc box set on August 19 for a retail price of 12,800 yen. It appears that the set will focus on a segment of the show’s second journey, starting in Malawi in 2004 and ending in Romania in 2006. During this time, the love wagon visited 14 countries and featured the show’s most famous participant, Hide, who was on “Ainori” longer than any other person in the show’s history.

In addition to the DVD box set, there will also be a compilation album of the show’s theme songs released on July 29, and an official “graduation album” book will go on sale in August.

Source:
Sankei Sports