Ai Iijima
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese media
personality and AV idol
. She belonged to the entertainment agency Watanabe Entertainment
until her retirement.
In order to make a living during this time, Iijima worked in karaoke
establishments, snack bars, Ginza
hostess clubs, and in enjo kōsai
(paid dating). She entered the entertainment business in her late teens, appearing on late night television programs wearing clothing such as thongs
, short skirts
, and even appearing topless with saline breast implants. Her stage name was chosen by a fan survey.
AV company. She quickly became the top AV actress of the time, appearing in over 100 films. She became a hostess on the nighttime television program, Gilgamesh Night
, where she became known as the "T-Back Queen", for her practice of turning her rear to the camera, lifting her skirt and flashing her G-string
, known in Japan as a "T-Back". In addition to adult videos, Iijima also starred in the softcore V-Cinema
production , an erotic suspense comedy released in January 1993 by Japan Home Video
. One of the top AV models by the age of 20, with admitted breast implants, a nose job, eyebrow work and bottom work as well, she decided to leave the porn business
, intent on a career in mainstream entertainment.
After ending her career in adult videos, Iijima released a musical single in 1993 and soon became a regular on daytime TV talk shows. Before long, she became one of the most successful tarento
to make the transition from pornography into mainstream entertainment. She even provided the story for her own manga
series, Time Traveler Ai, in which she was featured as the main character. Publicly, Iijima became known for her outspokenness and ability to speak frankly about her past and her personal life. Privately, a friend says, "At first glance, Ai looks like the really rough around the edges, but she's actually really sensitive, and she always thinks of others in ways like giving them little presents. She's that type..."
, Chinese, Spanish and Italian
, and an English
version was being planned. She visited Taiwan in 2001 and was well-received by the media there. The novel was also made into a four-hour television series and a theatrical movie which Iijima supervised. Iijima's catchphrase, "watashi teki ni" ("my way"), became a popular catchphrase due to the popularity of the book and film.
Iijima's acceptance into the mainstream gave her access to the highest levels of Japanese society, including once having dinner with Junichiro Koizumi
, who was Japan's Minister of Health and Welfare
at the time. Iijima claims that on this occasion, the future Prime Minister
discussed the sex life of dragonflies with her.
In November 2004, Iijima was invited to speak about her past at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan
. Later the same month, she participated in a United Nations program in Tokyo on AIDS awareness in the week leading up to World AIDS Day
on December 1, 2004.
Iijima's farewell appearance on the TV program KinSuma, on which she had been a regular for five years, was described as "a teary two-hour sayonara party complete with speeches, bouquets and lots of blubbering". However, when psychic Fujiko Kimura confronted Iijima on the program, telling her not to retire and suggesting that there was more behind the retirement announcement than had been made public, Iijima "seemed to admit as much and was reduced to tears." Whatever the circumstances leading to the decision, Ai Iijima's retirement at the age of 34 brought an end to what has been called "one of the more remarkable careers in the cutthroat Japanese entertainment world".
event in Tochigi Prefecture
on December 6. On March 3, 2007, Sports Nippon reported that Ai Iijima was suffering from hay fever, pyelitis (ascending urinary tract infection that has reached the pyelum (pelvis) of the kidney), cystitis and acute backache. She had written in her blog that she had kidney problems and inflammation of the urinary tract and bladder. Later, in February 2009, police announced that the pathology examination showed she had died of pneumonia
, and that there was no suggestion of suicide or murder.
}} – Iijima Ai|accessdate=2007-03-13|publisher='Web I-dic' (Idol Dictionary)|language=Japanese}}
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
personality and AV idol
AV Idol
An AV idol is a Japanese idol who works in the pornographic business, often both as an actress as well as a model as the video performances have a wide range, from just the idol strolling around their house doing chores in bikinis to hardcore porn...
. She belonged to the entertainment agency Watanabe Entertainment
Watanabe Entertainment
is a major Japanese entertainment conglomerate and a member of the Watanabe Production Group. Its head office is in Shibuya, Tokyo and the company's principle functions include organizing television and radio programming, managing Japanese entertainers as well as hosting foreign entertainers on...
until her retirement.
Early life
Born as , she described a troubled early life in her autobiography. She was raped in her early teens, and had an abortion. She ran away from home as a teenager, later stating, "I hated my parents, to the point where I would rather be coached by bums to sleep in parks wrapped in newspaper blankets."In order to make a living during this time, Iijima worked in karaoke
Karaoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
establishments, snack bars, Ginza
Ginza
is a district of Chūō, Tokyo, located south of Yaesu and Kyōbashi, west of Tsukiji, east of Yūrakuchō and Uchisaiwaichō, and north of Shinbashi.It is known as an upscale area of Tokyo with numerous department stores, boutiques, restaurants and coffeehouses. Ginza is recognized as one of the most...
hostess clubs, and in enjo kōsai
Enjo kosai
means "compensated dating" and is a practice which originated in Japan where older men give money and/or luxury gifts to attractive women for their companionship and, possibly, for sexual favors. The female participants range from primarily school-aged girls to housewives. A common misconception is...
(paid dating). She entered the entertainment business in her late teens, appearing on late night television programs wearing clothing such as thongs
Thong (clothing)
The thong is a garment generally worn as either underwear or as a swimsuit in many industrialized societies around the world. It may also be worn for traditional ceremonies or competitions such as sumo wrestling...
, short skirts
Miniskirt
A miniskirt, sometimes hyphenated as mini-skirt, is a skirt with a hemline well above the knees – generally no longer than below the buttocks; and a minidress is a dress with a similar meaning...
, and even appearing topless with saline breast implants. Her stage name was chosen by a fan survey.
Early career
Iijima's adult video debut was in April 1992 for the Crystal-EizouCrystal-Eizou
, known in English as Crystal Image or Crystal Video, is a Japanese corporation involved in the production and distribution of adult videos.-Company history:...
AV company. She quickly became the top AV actress of the time, appearing in over 100 films. She became a hostess on the nighttime television program, Gilgamesh Night
Gilgamesh Night
was a softcore porn Japanese variety TV show broadcast from October 1991 to March 1998. Airing Saturdays at 1:15 a.m. on TV Tokyo, the hour-long show helped launch the career of one of its late hosts, Ai Iijima, who afterwards moved into a more mainstream career....
, where she became known as the "T-Back Queen", for her practice of turning her rear to the camera, lifting her skirt and flashing her G-string
G-string
A G-string is a type of thong underwear or swimsuit, a narrow piece of cloth, leather, or plastic, that covers or holds the genitals, passes between the buttocks, and is attached to a band around the hips, worn as swimwear or underwear by women and men...
, known in Japan as a "T-Back". In addition to adult videos, Iijima also starred in the softcore V-Cinema
V-Cinema
Japanese is the direct-to-video industry that appeared in Japan in the 1980s. The term is a trademark of Toei Company but is widely used in the West to describe any Japanese direct-to-video release. In Japan the term used is...
production , an erotic suspense comedy released in January 1993 by Japan Home Video
Japan Home Video
is a Japanese media corporation which produces and distributes film and video products and is also involved in TV programming and game software. It uses the label for its adult video production.-Company history and finances:...
. One of the top AV models by the age of 20, with admitted breast implants, a nose job, eyebrow work and bottom work as well, she decided to leave the porn business
Pornography in Japan
Pornography in Japan.-Before the 20th century:Shunga or pornographic wood-block pictures were printed with all imaginable situations. These often took the form of a book with sentences to describe verbal utterances of the partners, as well as to offer brief descriptions of a scene...
, intent on a career in mainstream entertainment.
After ending her career in adult videos, Iijima released a musical single in 1993 and soon became a regular on daytime TV talk shows. Before long, she became one of the most successful tarento
Tarento
is a Japanese rendering of the English word "talent" and is used as a catch-all term for mass media personalities who regularly appear on television. Detractors of the phenomenon have referred to it in an English sense as "famous just for being famous" because many that fall into this career line...
to make the transition from pornography into mainstream entertainment. She even provided the story for her own manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series, Time Traveler Ai, in which she was featured as the main character. Publicly, Iijima became known for her outspokenness and ability to speak frankly about her past and her personal life. Privately, a friend says, "At first glance, Ai looks like the really rough around the edges, but she's actually really sensitive, and she always thinks of others in ways like giving them little presents. She's that type..."
Platonic Sex
In 2000, Iijima published Platonic Sex, a semi-autobiographical novel about a young girl who leaves home to escape her parents and ends up as an adult movie star. The book was a best-seller, selling over 1.7 million copies. By 2004, the book had been translated into KoreanKorean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
, Chinese, Spanish and Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
, and an English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
version was being planned. She visited Taiwan in 2001 and was well-received by the media there. The novel was also made into a four-hour television series and a theatrical movie which Iijima supervised. Iijima's catchphrase, "watashi teki ni" ("my way"), became a popular catchphrase due to the popularity of the book and film.
Later career
By 2002, Iijima had become a regular on several TV shows. With her pornographic past a decade away, Iijima was so well known as a mainstream TV celebrity that many younger members of her audience were unaware that she had once been one of the top AV actresses. Items from her early career began going for high prices, and an unauthorized 2002 box-set release of her pornographic appearances sold very well, until her lawyers took it off the market.Iijima's acceptance into the mainstream gave her access to the highest levels of Japanese society, including once having dinner with Junichiro Koizumi
Junichiro Koizumi
is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2001 to 2006. He retired from politics when his term in parliament ended.Widely seen as a maverick leader of the Liberal Democratic Party , he became known as an economic reformer, focusing on Japan's government debt and the...
, who was Japan's Minister of Health and Welfare
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan)
The ' is a cabinet level ministry of the Japanese government. It is commonly known as Kōrō-shō in Japan. This ministry provides regulations on maximum residue limits for agricultural chemicals in foods, basic food and drug regulations, standards for foods, food additives, etc.It was formed with...
at the time. Iijima claims that on this occasion, the future Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
discussed the sex life of dragonflies with her.
In November 2004, Iijima was invited to speak about her past at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan
Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan
The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan was started in 1945 to provide infrastructure for foreign journalists working in Post-World War II Japan. Historically, the club has been located in the area around Ginza....
. Later the same month, she participated in a United Nations program in Tokyo on AIDS awareness in the week leading up to World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day, observed December 1 every year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. Government and health officials observe the day, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995, the President of the United States has made an...
on December 1, 2004.
Retirement
After the difficulties of her early life, Iijima's career in mainstream entertainment had been remarkably free of trouble for over a decade until she was victimized by an embezzler at her talent agency, who took about 100 million yen from her. Late in 2006, she took two weeks off from her position as a panelist on the Sunday morning TV variety show, Sunday Japon. She later revealed in her blog that she was suffering from health problems, causing rumors of her possible retirement from show business to circulate in the press. In March 2007, when asked by the host of Sunday Japon whether rumors of her retirement were true, Iijima replied, "Yes, I have been wanting to quit for some time. I will announce my future plans next week."Iijima's farewell appearance on the TV program KinSuma, on which she had been a regular for five years, was described as "a teary two-hour sayonara party complete with speeches, bouquets and lots of blubbering". However, when psychic Fujiko Kimura confronted Iijima on the program, telling her not to retire and suggesting that there was more behind the retirement announcement than had been made public, Iijima "seemed to admit as much and was reduced to tears." Whatever the circumstances leading to the decision, Ai Iijima's retirement at the age of 34 brought an end to what has been called "one of the more remarkable careers in the cutthroat Japanese entertainment world".
Death
At about 3:30 p.m. on December 24, 2008 (JST), Iijima was found dead in her 21st floor Tokyo apartment not far from Shibuya Crossing. She was found lying face-down on the floor when medics forced their way into her place. She had been dead for about 7 days, police said. Some of her show business friends told reporters that Ai suffered recently from bouts of melancholia and depression, and they believe her death was accidental or perhaps a heart attack. She once told reporters she was taking medication for a "mild neurosis". Through this and other occasional entries on her blog, "Porno Hospital", she kept fans up to date on her life and business dealings. She is said to have been planning to start a new business focused on selling condoms to women. She wrote extensively about a World AIDS DayWorld AIDS Day
World AIDS Day, observed December 1 every year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. Government and health officials observe the day, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995, the President of the United States has made an...
event in Tochigi Prefecture
Tochigi Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Kantō region on the island of Honshū, Japan. The capital is the city of Utsunomiya.Nikkō, whose ancient Shintō shrines and Buddhist temples UNESCO has recognized by naming them a World Heritage Site, is in this prefecture...
on December 6. On March 3, 2007, Sports Nippon reported that Ai Iijima was suffering from hay fever, pyelitis (ascending urinary tract infection that has reached the pyelum (pelvis) of the kidney), cystitis and acute backache. She had written in her blog that she had kidney problems and inflammation of the urinary tract and bladder. Later, in February 2009, police announced that the pathology examination showed she had died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
, and that there was no suggestion of suicide or murder.
Partial filmography
Adult videos (AV)| Release date | Video title | Company | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992-04 | Debut |
Crystal-Eizou Crystal-Eizou , known in English as Crystal Image or Crystal Video, is a Japanese corporation involved in the production and distribution of adult videos.-Company history:... |
|
| 1992-05-09 | Doukyuusei Ha Amazuppaku Nure Te |
VIP Atlas21 , formerly known as VIP, is a Japanese adult video company with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.-VIP:The AV company was founded in June 1981 and issued its first video, titled , in December of that same year making it one of the first adult video companies to be established in Japan. The studio... 9B-033 |
Futoshi Kamino |
| 1992-05-26 | |
Crystal-Eizou Crystal-Eizou , known in English as Crystal Image or Crystal Video, is a Japanese corporation involved in the production and distribution of adult videos.-Company history:... Messiah ME-25 |
Futoshi Kamino |
| 1992-06-12 | Busy Love |
VIP 9B-043 |
Futoshi Kamino |
| 1992-06-25 | Sexual Nurse – Sexual Examination |
Tairiku Shobo Foxy TFO-37 |
Jiro Taga |
| 1992-07-09 | Tokyo Dorompa Daughter – Special Bunny Girl |
Crystal-Eizou Crystal-Eizou , known in English as Crystal Image or Crystal Video, is a Japanese corporation involved in the production and distribution of adult videos.-Company history:... Messiah ME-29 |
Jiro Taga |
| 1992-07-24 | A Bride's Pure Underwear |
VIP 9B-053 |
Jiro Taga |
| 1992-08-04 | Deadly Spasms |
Crystal-Eizou Messiah ME-32 |
|
| 1992-08-28 | 19 Year Old Wife |
VIP Atlas21 , formerly known as VIP, is a Japanese adult video company with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.-VIP:The AV company was founded in June 1981 and issued its first video, titled , in December of that same year making it one of the first adult video companies to be established in Japan. The studio... 9B-063 |
Jiro Taga |
| 1992-10-17 | Great Uniform Vibe Chapter 2 |
Stella Atlas21 , formerly known as VIP, is a Japanese adult video company with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.-VIP:The AV company was founded in June 1981 and issued its first video, titled , in December of that same year making it one of the first adult video companies to be established in Japan. The studio... STV-1105 |
Jiro Taga |
| 1992-10-28 | Thong Queen |
Kuki Kuki Inc. is a Japanese adult video company which has its headquarters in Ebisu Minami in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo. The company is involved in the production and distribution of videos, satellite and cable TV, and a large internet site, X CITY.-Company history:... RT-17 |
Jiro Taga |
| 1992-11-12 | Otenki Oneesan |
Crystal-Eizou Crystal-Eizou , known in English as Crystal Image or Crystal Video, is a Japanese corporation involved in the production and distribution of adult videos.-Company history:... Great Confidence GC-36 |
Jiro Taga |
| 1992-12-23 | Sister-in-Laws's Used Underwear 3 Ai Iijima |
Kuki Kuki Inc. is a Japanese adult video company which has its headquarters in Ebisu Minami in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo. The company is involved in the production and distribution of videos, satellite and cable TV, and a large internet site, X CITY.-Company history:... RT-18 |
Shin Katsukawa |
| 1993-02-11 | Dorompa Daughter 5 – Valentine Panic |
Crystal-Eizou Messiah ME-51 |
Kyosuke Murayama |
| 1993-03-05 | Flash Paradise |
Alice Japan Alice Japan was established on April 4, 1986 as the adult video label for Japan Home Video .-Company information:The early AVs produced by JHV went under the Penguin label, the first title being the 30 minute long softcore Asobinasareya, Tadakurue starring Hidemi Nakajima released May 21, 1984 with... KA-1530 |
|
| 1993-03-25 | Dorompa Daughter 6 – Suteki na Pichipichi Pai |
Crystal-Eizou Messiah ME-57 |
Kyosuke Murayama |
| 1993-04-22 | Dorompa Daughter 7 – Mune Sawagi No Koshitsuki |
Crystal-Eizou Messiah ME-61 |
Kyosuke Murayama |
| 1993 | Special Fuck Play Vol.8: Raped Fiance |
Crystal-Eizou Messiah ME-64 |
Kyosuke Murayama |
| 1993-06-11 | Mejiri |
Alice Japan Alice Japan was established on April 4, 1986 as the adult video label for Japan Home Video .-Company information:The early AVs produced by JHV went under the Penguin label, the first title being the 30 minute long softcore Asobinasareya, Tadakurue starring Hidemi Nakajima released May 21, 1984 with... KA-1556 |
Kyosuke Murayama |
Sources
– Iijima Ai|accessdate=2007-03-13|language=Japanese|publisher=Japanese Movie DatabaseJapanese Movie Database
The , commonly referred to as JMDB, is an online database of information about Japanese movies, actors, and production crew personnel. It is similar to the Internet Movie Database, but lists only those films originally released in Japan. The site was started in 1997, and contains movies from Meiji...
}} – Iijima Ai|accessdate=2007-03-13|publisher='Web I-dic' (Idol Dictionary)|language=Japanese}}