| Country: | Japan |
| Language: | Japanese |
| Network: | Fuji Television |
, 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.
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.
| Country | Air date | Participants | Couples | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| men | women | |||||
| 0 | Oct 11 1999 (#1) | Hory, Takaya, Kazu, Kin-chan | ||||
| 1 | Oct 11 1999 (#1) - Nov 15 1999 (#6) | Hory, Takaya, Kazu, Kin-chan | Okan, Midori, Ai | Takaya ♥ Okan (1st) | ||
| 2 | Nov 15 1999 (#6) - Jan 17 2000 (#13) | Hory, Kin-chan, Shingo, Inotchi, Fuku, Jun | Midori, Ai, Tomo, Mio | Hory ♥ Ai (2nd) | ||
| 3 | Jan 17 2000 (#13) - Feb 28 2000 (#19) | Kin-chan, Inotchi, Fuku, Jun, Shū | Midori, Tomo, Mio, Kyōko | Inotchi ♥ Tomo (3rd) | ||
| 4 | Feb 28 2000 (#19) - Mar 13 2000 (#21) | Kin-chan, Jun, Tā-kun, Satoshi | Kyōko, Mie, Wakana | Jun ♥ Kyōko (4th) | ||
| 5 | Mar 20 2000 (#22) - May 8, 2000 (#27) | Kin-chan, Tā-kun, Satoshi, Yūji | Mie, Wakana, Sanae | Kin-chan ♥ Midori (5th)*2 | ||
| 6 | May 15, 2000 (#28) - Jun 26 2000 (#34) | Sen-chan, Hisashi, GYO, Sunatchi, Haru | Mariko, Miyuki, Tanabē, Yuki | Hisashi ♥ Mariko (6th)*3 | ||
| 7 | Jun 26 2000 (#34) - Jul 24 2000 (#38) | Sen-chan, GYO, Haru, Yassan | Miyuki, Tanabē, Yuki | GYO ♥ Miyuki (7th) | ||
| 8 | Jul 24 2000 (#38) - Aug 07 2000 (#40) | Sen-chan, Haru, Yassan, Ken'ichi | Tanabē, Yuki, Devi | Haru ♥ Yuki (8th) | ||
| 9 | Aug 07 2000 (#40) - Aug 28 2000 (#43) | Sen-chan, Yassan, Ken'ichi | Tanabē, Devi | |||
| 10 | Aug 28 2000 (#43) - Sep 25 2000 (#47) | Sen-chan, Ken'ichi, Fujiwara-kun, Gō, Paolo*1 | Devi, Nao, Chinatsu | |||
| 11 | 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 | Nov 13 2000 (#53) - Dec 18 2000 (#58) | Ken'ichi, Gō, Seki-chan, Tsune, Takashi | Chinatsu, Eri, Yūko, Hitomi | |||
| 13 | Dec 18 2000 (#58) - Jan 15 2001 (#61) | Gō, Seki-chan, Tsune, Takashi | Eri, Yūko, Hitomi | Gō ♥ Eri (11th) | ||
| 14 | Jan 22 2001 (#62) - Feb 26 2001 (#66) | Seki-chan, Takashi, Ken, Sasayan | Yūko, Hitomi, Ogu | Sasayan ♥ Yūko (12th) | ||
| 15 | Feb 26 2001 (#66) | Seki-chan, Takashi, Ken | Hitomi, Ogu | |||
| 16 | Mar 05 2001 (#67) - Apr 03 2001 (#71) | Seki-chan, Takashi, Ken, Naoya | Hitomi, Ogu, Keiko | Ken ♥ Keiko (13th) | ||
| 17 | Apr 03 2001 (#71) - Apr 30 2001 (#75) | Seki-chan, Takashi, Naoya | Hitomi, Ogu, Ringo | Takashi ♥ Ogu (14th) | ||
| 18 | Apr 30 2001 (#75) - May 21, 2001 (#78) | Seki-chan, Naoya, Daisuke, Match-bō(Yamasaki) | Ringo, Yū, Tsutchy | |||
| 19 | May 21, 2001 (#78) - Jul 02 2001 (#84) | Seki-chan, Naoya, Daisuke, Match-bō, Yōsei | Ringo, Yū, Tsutchy, Natchan | |||
| 20 | Jul 02 2001 (#84) - Aug 13 2001 (#90) | Seki-chan, Naoya, Daisuke, Yōsei | Yū, Tsutchy, Natchan | |||
| 21 | Aug 13 2001 (#90) - Sep 24 2001 (#95) | Seki-chan, Daisuke, Yōsei, Yasu | Natchan, Akky, Yūka | Yōsei ♥ Akky (15th) | ||
| 22 | Oct 02 2001 (#96) | Seki-chan, Daisuke, Yasu, Reggae | Natchan, Yūka | Daisuke ♥ Natchan (16th) | ||
| 23 | Oct 02 2001 (#96) - Nov 05 2001 (#100) | Seki-chan, Yasu, Reggae, Tobi | Yūka, Ai, Vivi | Seki-chan ♥ Yūka (17th) | ||
| 24 | Nov 12 2001 (#101) - Dec 17 2001 (#106) | Yasu, Reggae, Tobi, Yoshi-chan | Vivi, Mizuho, Yukinē | |||
| 25 | Dec 17 2001 (#106) - Jan 07 2002 (#108) | Reggae, Tobi, Yoshi-chan, Take | Vivi, Mizuho, Yukinē | |||
| 26 | Jan 07 2002 (#108) - Feb 18 2002 (#114) | Reggae, Tobi, Yoshi-chan, Take | Vivi, Mizuho, Yukinē | Tobi ♥ Vivi (18th) | ||
| 27 | Feb 18 2002 (#114) - Mar 11 2002 (#116) | Reggae, Yoshi-chan, TAKA | Mizuho, Yukinē, Mika | |||
| 28 | Mar 11 2002 (#116) - Jun 24 2002 (#128) | Reggae, Yoshi-chan, TAKA, Tiger | Yukinē, Mika, Megu | Tiger ♥ Megu (19th) TAKA ♥ Mika (20th) | ||
| 29 | Jul 01 2002 (#129) - Aug 05 2002 (#134) | Nan-chan, Kōta, Keisuke, Tomokun | Osugi, Yuri, Wakana | |||
| 30 | Aug 05 2002 (#134) - Oct 14 2002 (#143) | Nan-chan, Kōta, Keisuke, Daijō | Osugi, Yuri, Wakana, Yukachin | Keisuke ♥ Osugi (21st) Daijō ♥ Yuri (22nd) | ||
| 31 | Oct 21 2002 (#144) - Nov 18 2002 (#148) | Nan-chan, Kōta, Tetsu, Tsunayoshi | Yukachin, Miho, Reika | |||
| 32 | Nov 25 2002 (#149) - Dec 02 2002 (#150) | Nan-chan, Kōta, Tetsu, Kazu-kun | Yukachin, Miho, Reika | |||
| 33 | Dec 02 2002 (#150) - Dec 23 2002 (#153) | Nan-chan, Kōta, Tetsu, Kazu-kun | Yukachin, Miho, Reika | |||
| 34 | Dec 29 2002 (#154) - Feb 03 2003 (#159) | Kōta, Tetsu, Kazu-kun | Yukachin, Miho, Reika | Kōta ♥ Miho (23rd) | ||
| 35 | 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 | Apr 21 2003 (#168) - May 19, 2003 (#172) | Miyaken, Asa-chan, Dobokun, Tazy | Saki, Gachapin, Mikan | Dobokun ♥ Saki (26th) | ||
| Country | Air date | Participants | Couples | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| men | women | |||||
| 37 | May 26, 2003 (#173) - Jun 30 2003 (#178) | Miyaken, Asa-chan, Tazy, DAI | Gachapin, Mikan, Yukky, Michelle*1 | |||
| 38 | Jun 30 2003 (#178) - Jul 28 2003 (#182) | Asa-chan, Tazy, DAI, Boxer | Gachapin, Yukky, Eiko, Sakura | |||
| 39 | Jul 28 2003 (#182) - Aug 04 2003 (#183) | Asa-chan, DAI, Boxer, Shima | Gachapin, Eiko, Sakura | |||
| 40 | Aug 04 2003 (#183) - Aug 11 2003 (#184) & Aug 25 2003 (#186) | Asa-chan, DAI, Boxer, Shima | Gachapin, Eiko, Sakura | |||
| 41 | 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 | Oct 20 2003 (#193) - Dec 01 2003 (#198) | Sōta, Hassy, Hayato | Sakura, Rii, Yūmin | |||
| 44 | Dec 01 2003 (#198) - Jan 12 2004 (#203) | Asa-chan, Hassy, Hayato, Kōei | Rii, Yūmin, Kaji | |||
| 45 | Jan 12 2004 (#203) - Feb 16 2004 (#208) | Asa-chan, Hassy, Hayato, Kōei | Yūmin, Kaji, Miki | |||
| 46 | Feb 23 2004 (#209) - Apr 01 2004 (#214) | Asa-chan, Hayato, Kōei, Haolong | Yūmin, Kaji, Miki | |||
| 47 | 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 | May 17, 2004 (#220) - Jun 07 2004 (#223) | Haolong, Hakase, Takky, Ryō | Juri, Yuka, Numatchi | |||
| 49 | Jun 14 2004 (#224) - Jul 19 2004 (#229) | Hakase, Takky, Ryō, Junpei | Juri, Yuka, Numatchi | Ryō ♥ Juri (31st) | ||
| 50 | Jul 19 2004 (#229) - Aug 30 2004 (#235) | Takky, Junpei, Yū-kun, Hide | Yuka, Numatchi, Seriha | |||
| 51 | Sep 06 2004 (#236) - Oct 18 2004 (#241) | Junpei, Yū-kun, Hide, Itchy | Numatchi, Seriha, Kayo, Pendo*1 | |||
| 52 | Oct 18 2004 (#241) - Nov 22 2004 (#246) | Junpei, Yū-kun, Hide, Itchy | Seriha, Kayo, Ōse | |||
| 53 | Nov 22 2004 (#246) - Jan 27 2005 (#252) | Junpei, Yū-kun, Hide, Itchy, Haisha | Seriha, Ōse, Salt | Itchy ♥ Seriha (32nd) | ||
| 54 | Jan 10 2005 (#252) - Feb 14 2005 (#257) | Junpei, Yū-kun, Hide, Bukurō | Ōse, Salt, Riko | |||
| 55 | Feb 14 2005 (#257) - Apr 11 2005 (#263) | Yū-kun, Hide, Bukurō, Kōji | Ōse, Salt, Riko | Yū-kun ♥ Riko (33rd) | ||
| 56 | Apr 11 2005 (#263) - May 16, 2005 (#268) | Hide, Bukurō, Kōji, Arashi | Ōse, Mikarin, Omami | Bukurō ♥ Ōse (34th) | ||
| 57 | May 16, 2005 (#268) - Jun 13 2005 (#272) | Hide, Kōji, Arashi, Susan | Mikarin, Omami, Takano | |||
| 58 | Jun 13 2005 (#272) - Jul 18 2005 (#277) | Hide, Kōji, Arashi, Susan | Mikarin, Takano, Natchi | |||
| 59 | Jul 25 2005 (#278) - Aug 01 2005 (#279) | Hide, Arashi, Susan, tk | Mikarin, Takano | |||
| 60 | Aug 01 2005 (#279) - Sep 05 2005 (#284) | Hide, Arashi, Susan, tk | Mikarin, Omami, Takano | |||
| 61 | Sep 12 2005 (#285) - Oct 17 2005 (#288) | Hide, Arashi, Susan, tk | MIE, Ume-chan, Aya | |||
| 62 | Oct 17 2005 (#288) - Nov 28 2005 (#294) | Hide, Arashi, Susan, tk | MIE, Ume-chan, Aya | |||
| 63 | Nov 28 2005 (#294) - Jan 16 2006 (#299) | Hide, Arashi, Susan, Alec | MIE, Ume-chan, Aya | Arashi ♥ Aya (35th) | ||
| 64 | Jan 16 2006 (#299) - Mar 06 2006 (#305) | Susan, Alec, Tagami-kun, Outlaw | MIE, Izumi, Hisayon, Andy*1 | |||
| 65 | Mar 13 2006 (#306) - Apr 24 2006 (#310) | Susan, Alec, Tagami-kun, Outlaw | Izumi, Hisayon, Goki | |||
| 66 | Apr 24 2006 (#310) | Susan, Tagami-kun, Outlaw | Izumi, Hisayon, Goki | |||
| 67 | Apr 24 2006 (#310) - Jun 19 2006 (#318) | Susan, Tagami-kun, Outlaw, Sōri | Izumi, Hisayon, Goki | Outlaw ♥ Goki*2 Susan ♥ MIE (36th)*3 | ||
| 68 | Jul 03 2006 (#320) - Jul 24 2006 (#323) | Tagami-kun, Sōri, Tachi, Uekki | Hisayon, Chaki, Yankumi | |||
| 69 | Jul 31 2006 (#324) - Aug 28 2006 (#328) | Sōri, Tachi, Uekki, Yokomī | Hisayon, Chaki, Yankumi | |||
| 70 | Sep 04 2006 (#329) - Oct 23 2006 (#334) | Tachi, Uekki, Yokomī, San-chan | Chaki, Yankumi, Junko | Tachi ♥ Junko (37th) | ||
| 71 | Oct 30 2006 (#335) - Dec 04 2006 (#340) | Uekki, Yokomī, San-chan, ISSY | Chaki, Yankumi, Nagisa | Uekki ♥ Chaki (38th) | ||
| 72 | Dec 11 2006 (#341) - Jan 29 2007 (#346) | Yokomī, San-chan, ISSY, Gla-san | Yankumi, Nagisa, Bambi | |||
| 73 | Feb 12 2007 (#348) - Mar 19 2007 (#352) | San-chan, ISSY, Gla-san, Moriken | Nagisa, Bambi, Miyanē | ISSY ♥ Nagisa (39th) | ||
| Country | Air date | Participants | Couples | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| men | women | |||||
| 74 | Apr 09 2007 (#353) - May 7, 2007 (#357) | San-chan, Gla-san, Moriken, Oga | Bambi, Miyanē, Hiroe | |||
| 75 | May 21, 2007 (#359) - May 28 2007 (#360) | San-chan, Gla-san, Moriken, Oga | Miyanē, Hiroe, Neko | |||
| 76 | Jun 04 2007 (#361) - Jun 18 2007 (#363) | San-chan, Gla-san, Moriken, Oga | Miyanē, Hiroe, Neko | |||
| 77 | Jun 18 2007 (#363) - Jul 30 2007 (#368) | Gla-san, Moriken, Oga, Hiderinko | Miyanē, Hiroe, Neko | |||
| 78 | Aug 06 2007 (#369) - Sep 03 2007 (#373) | Gla-san, Moriken, Teppei, Pochi | Hiroe, Neko, Kuu | |||
| 79 | Sep 03 2007 (#373) - Sep 17 2007 (#375) | Moriken, Teppei, Pochi | Neko, Kuu, Chaba | |||
| 80 | Sep 24 2007 (#376) - Oct 22 2007 (#378) | Moriken, Teppei, Pochi, Carbonara | Neko, Kuu, Chaba | Moriken ♥ Kuu (40th) | ||
| 81 | Oct 29 2007 (#379) - Nov 26 2007 (#383) | Teppei, Carbonara, Danny | Neko, Chaba, Remi | |||
| 82 | Dec 03 2007 (#384) - Mar 10 2008 (#394) | Carbonara, Danny, Miya-kun, Ryō, Seiji | Remi, Momo, Kuro | Ryō ♥ Remi (41st) | ||
| 83 | Mar 10 2008 (#395) - Apr 14 2008 (#398) | Danny, Miya-kun, Seiji, Umi | Momo, Kuro, Yokko | |||
| 84 | Apr 14 2008 (#398) | Danny, Miya-kun, Seiji, Umi | Momo, Kuro, Yokko | |||
| 85 | Apr 21 2008 (#399) - May 26, 2008 (#403) | Miya-kun, Seiji, Umi, Kōsuke | Momo, Kuro, Yokko | |||
| 86 | May 26, 2008 (#403) - Jul 28 2008 (#412) | Miya-kun, Umi, Kōsuke, Shrek | Momo, Kuro, Yokko | |||
| 87 | Aug 04 2008 (#413) - Aug 25 2008 (#416) | Umi, Kōsuke, Shrek | Momo, Yokko, Yamaji | |||
| 88 | Sep 02 2008 (#417) - Nov 03 2008 (#424) | Kōsuke, Shrek, Umeo, Gōya | Momo, Yokko, Yamaji | Kōsuke ♥ Yokko (42nd) | ||
| 89 | Nov 03 2008 (#424) - Dec 15 2008 (#430) | Shrek, Umeo, Gōya, Tadatchi | Momo, Yamaji, Māmin | Umeo ♥ Momo (43rd) | ||
| 90 | Dec 22 2008 (#431) - Feb 9 2009 (#436) | Shrek, Gōya, Tadatchi, Wrestler (Ryouji Sai) | Yamaji, Māmin, Hime | |||
| 91 | Feb 9 2009 (#436) - Mar 23 2009 (#441) | Shrek, Gōya, Tadatchi, Wrestler | Māmin, Hime, Garlic | Gōya ♥ Hime (44th) | ||
| 92 | Mar 23 2009 (#441) | Shrek, Tadatchi, Wrestler, Shun | Māmin, Garlic, Shihonosuke | |||
| Country | Air date | Participants | Couples | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| men | women | |||||
| 01 | Nov 26 2017 (#001) - Apr 22 2018 (#022) | Yuchan, Wedding, Hatomune, Taka | Yumechin, Depparin, Asuka | |||
| 02 | Myanmar | Nov 26 2017 (#001) - Apr 22 2018 (#022) | Yuchan, Wedding, Hatomune, ShyBoy | Yumechin, Depparin, Asuka | ||
| 03 | Taiwan | Nov 26 2017 (#001) - Apr 22 2018 (#022) | Yuchan, Wedding, Hatomune, ShyBoy, Akira (later) | Depparin, Asuka, Kasuga | ||
| 04 | Thailand | Nov 26 2017 (#001) - Apr 22 2018 (#022) | Yuchan, ShyBoy, Akira, Tom | Asuka, Kasuga, Kanya | Yuchan & Asuka (1st) | |
| 05 | Malaysia | Nov 26 2017 (#001) - Apr 22 2018 (#022) | ShyBoy, Akira, Tom, Shacho | Kasuga, Kanya, Yuchan | ShyBoy & Kasuga (2nd) | |
| 06 | Singapore | Nov 26 2017 (#001) - Apr 22 2018 (#022) | Akira, Tom, Shacho | Kanya, Yuchan | ||
| Country | Participants | Couples | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| men | women | ||||
| 07 | India - Mumbaj, bengaluru, Kochi, kovalam | Tom, Miyanma, Dr Morimori, Isamuchan | Yuchan, Moa, Depparin | no match | |
| 08 | Nepal - Katmand, Dźanakpuru | Hidekun, Tom, Miyanma, Dr Morimori | Yuchan, Moa, Depparin | Yuchan&Miyanma (1st in season, 4th in program) | |
| 09 | Uzbekistan - Tashkent, Samarkanda | Hidekun, Tom, Dr Morimori, Al | Moa, Depparin, Sakurako | Dr Morimori&Moa (2nd in season, 5th in program) | |
| 10 | Kazachstan - Astan | Hidekun, Tom , Al, Junki | Mya, Depparin, Sakurako | No match | |
| 11 | Kyrgyzstan | Hidekun, Tom, Junki, Taizo | Mya, Depparin, Sakurako | Depparin&Junki (3rd in season, 6th in program) | |
| Country | Participants | Couples | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | Women | ||||
| 01 | Kenya | Shu-mai, U-zi, O-ji, Haribo | Su-su, Husky, Kou | No match | |
| 02 | Uganda | Shu-Mai. O-ji, Haribo, Hide | Su-su, Husky, Kou | Su-su & Haribo (1st in season, 1st in program) | |
| 03 | Rwanda | Shu-Mai, O-ji, Hide, Joykun | Husky, Kou, Yuina | No match | |
| 04 | Tanzania | Shu-Mai, Hide, Joykun, Genove | Husky, Yuina, Aonyan | Genove & Aonyan (2nd in season, 2nd in program)Joykun & Husky (3rd in season, 3rd in program) | |
Although relationships between staff and participants are forbidden, some incidents involving staff have occurred:
Other memorable incidents include:
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]
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.