A Fangirl's Take on Aibon's Smoking Scandal.

"On February 9th 2006 it was confirmed that Friday, the tabloid notorious for breaking scandalous stories about Japanese celebrities, would be publishing photographs showing Hello! Project member Kago Ai breaking the law by smoking while underage. The story was soon confirmed by UFA, and Kago was immediately suspended from work for an unspecified period."

-- Taken from this article over at Wiki.theppn


My initial reaction when I first heard of this was probably the same as every other H!P fan. Read: MAJOR SHOCK. Ever since Kago debuted, she already established a reputation for being too-damn-kawaii. From her Morning Musume days up to her current projects with Tsuji Nozomi in W (DoubleYou), she has maintained an image that I would describe as effortlessly adorable. Basically, my point is that Kago, being the sweetie that she is, was the last person anyone would put on a list of Smoker! J-idols.

As a major Kago Ai fan, I find this scandal just plain heart-breaking. Plus the photo manips going around spoofing it just adds to the depression. (Was that too much? Ufu.)

But divorcing myself from the torrent of emotions (!!!) & looking at the situation objectively, disappointment towards Kago is inevitable. Not just as an idol, but also as a civilian. (What is it with my vocabulary today??)Being an idol, it goes unsaid that you should maintain a good public image. Aside from her assumingly huge male fan base, she also has kids looking up to her carried from her days with Minimoni.

And aside from disappointing her own fans as Kago Ai, she has also disappointed her best friend Tsuji Nozomi, the other half of W (DoubleYou). Because of her suspension, Tsuji's work is also affected dramatically with all the cancellations of scheduled releases, tours & various performances.

So then...

As a Kago Ai fan: *is currently sobbing & incapable of forming logical sentences*

Emotionally-detached version: Bad Aibon! >:/

Bonus snarky asshole version: You should've smoked in private.