Kago goes Semi-Nude

[Shoujo Q]

Info leeched from H!O and JHiP and probably a few blogs. I've made the rounds.



First for a little good news, Kago, our star rule breaker has a new blog. A blog anyone can comment on. (I've already left a comment! xD) And she uses her new found English skills. Yeah, I'm excited, I hope she'll post more English.



And now the Bad news (at least if you're me and don't like this sort of stuff), Kago will be appearing in a "semi-nude" photobook, to be released on the January 23rd. Title is Adultism (?). I need confirmation on this since I'm not positive.

ISBN: 978-4-10-790195-8

Price: 1,890 yen

http://www.7andy.jp/books/detail/-/accd/R0391645







Pictures are below, warning for bad photography and provocative shots. I weeded these all out from H!O so I'm not exactly sure what's from the PB, they might all be.

















I think all that's missing is the cheap 70's porno music and you'd be set.



Well if Kago hasn't beat you dead talking about her being an adult now, the visuals are sure to help.



I'm not sure what to think right now. It's like she's pulling herself in a whole bunch of different directions at once and isn't sure what being an adult means. But that's just my Opinion.

[tsukinobyouin]

[quote name='PQ' post='57073' date='Jan 19 2009, 01:15 PM']It's like she's pulling herself in a whole bunch of different directions at once and isn't sure what being an adult means. But that's just my Opinion.[/quote]



That's pretty much how I feel too. There's something really unsettling about a lot of these pictures. The second picture is very "I was drunk at a party when I took this." In the third the way she's culred up with her hands on her stomach (and her ribs showing <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... hatthe.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wub:' /> ) she looks ill, the splayed legs in the seventh just look trashy, the one of her laying on her stomach on the bed looks like it was taken in her boyfriend's basement, and I don't know WHAT is going on in that 1st picture in the second row. The only shot that actually looks sexy is the cover shot.



I could get on the bandwagon if she wanted to move into gravure, even the semi-nude kind, if she really had it together. If she took a professional looking shoot and actually looked confident and sexy it could work. She could promote the whole "I'm adult and I can be sexy, I don't have to act 12 my whole life" thing. But instead it's just like....I'm going to talk about my tragedy, then I'm going to put out a random dvd, also I might record some songs and oh yeah guys I'm going back to school but FIRST I'm gettin nekkid.

[Cyrene]

Oh Kago <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... >/sigh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wub:' />.



That's all I really have to say.

[Sabaku Ika]

[quote name='PQ' post='57073' date='Jan 19 2009, 01:15 PM']I'm not sure what to think right now. It's like she's pulling herself in a whole bunch of different directions at once and isn't sure what being an adult means. But that's just my Opinion.[/quote]

You are right, but it's partly our faults for supporting an industry that creates such confused people when they leave it.



Sorry Kago.

[Special Needs Tricycle]

These are just typical gravure shots. I wouldn't start chimping out until she actually starts showing tits.

[waterhouse]

omg, that's sad. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... ryalot.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />



This could have real extraordinary impact if it was done couple of years ago before the scandals surface, now we all know have been fed with all the "adult-themed" news, the photos doesn't seems to inflict much impact.



If consider them as nude pics, Kago's body doesn't seem to be ideal for this kind of task, with the slightly wide shoulder, chubby thigh and the prominent varicose veins on the feet. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... >/nono.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':nono:' />



If consider them as work of photography, as PQ pointed out, they are bad.



I am wondering what would happen to W in 2009 if Kago didn't do what she did. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... lleyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wub:' />

[Farrah]

Actually, I feel Kago's body looks a bit unhealthy here. There's no tone, just ribs and hip bones sticking out. Not attractive. At least when she was chubby she looked rock solid in the muscle department. I actually am a little surprised by these pics, but not really.

[Pucchi-Mo]

Super Cargo? That's a great name.

Big deal, Otome-Gumi looked more nude in their 2nd PV.



We want the hair nudes you promised! (not really)

[Sabaku Ika]

[quote name='PucchiBest' post='57099' date='Jan 19 2009, 05:37 PM']Super Cargo? That's a great name.[/quote]

HAPPY ENOUGH ON SIGHT

MUCH HAPPIER AT PLAYING WITH

IT'S REALLY FULL OF FLEXIBLE 'KAGO-AI'



I think this excerpt is proof that the whole thing is highly artistic.

[Pflaume]

The Engrish is HILARIOUS.



Wow, I don't mean to be a jerk or anything, but the girl does not have a sexy boday. I never realized just how much she lacked any shape whatsoever until she decided to show the goodies. I liked her more with clothes on.



I don't really know how to comment on her doing this to begin with. Do not want? The pictures unsettle me a little bit, but I can't pinpoint exactly why. Desperation? Low quality photography? General weirdness? Eh.



That said, I agree that it's not gasp-worthy until we see nips.

[peachgirldb]

This oddly reminds me of that strange Kanno Miho nude photobook that she would never talk about and looked vaguely upset about.

[eri]

It doesn't look like a real PB but a special gravure photo shoot of Kago in an adult-oriented magazine focusing on female stars. Someone with better Japanese can confirm.



[quote name=':Peach' post='57108' date='Jan 19 2009, 04:49 PM']This oddly reminds me of that strange Kanno Miho nude photobook that she would never talk about and looked vaguely upset about.[/quote]



Wasn't that sad? Since the mafia is intertwined with the media world, I wonder what kind of twisted deal set that up.



Let's not forget Rie Miyazawa who went anorexic, suicidal, and had a general nervous breakdown after her infamous nude PB.



edit] So yeah, seems like one of those glossy men's magazines that feature actresses (think Maxim) had Kago for one of their monthly features and will be published Jan 23. It is not just a photoshoot of "daring semi-nudes" but supposedly has a mix of cute shots, etc, as well as a DVD. Anyone have a better translation?

[ozu]

DO NOT WANT

[alita87]

While I'm not completely sure what this is, I'll probably buy it. It's released this week and is cheap so I might as well. Even if it is in the men's magazine section I know the odd looks I'll get (which is actually why it is amusing to pop into the adult video section in rental stores and watch all the men suddenly clear out).



All of the shots are really tame as far as gravure goes so calling this even semi-nude is a bit of a stretch. It's just not Kago, she doesn't have the body for it at all. Maybe if she got a bit more meat back on her bones, but as she is now she's too scrawny and asides for the one shot of her shopping in a blue sundress, does not seem to have even any cleavage for gravure.



But for me as a documentation of all the steps of Kago Ai, I want it. (And this is making going to grad school here in Japan to do a thesis on the idol world look more and more appealing).

[Pi Mako]

Meh. She doesn't have the face or body for this kind of stuff at all. Especially body, what the hell did she do to herself? She's a skeleton. The only decent photo is the one of her laying on her side and you can see the profile of her face.



And I was misled by this title. I thought semi-nude meant topless (where you can actually see her breasts).



I never really liked Kago, and to this day I still can't figure this girl out. She still seems pretty lost to me.

[Melon]

Oh Kago, Kago, Kago. What have you become? I do not think even you know yet. But this is not "adult". Simply doing "adult" things does not make you an adult. I wish you had a stronger female role model in life, I really do. This reeks of desperation.

[jochin]

Well this looks tame to me. And the photography is terrible, especially in the one where she's looking over what I assume is her shoulder but looks like someones butt cheek.



Btw her body is cute.

[palsunstar]

Semi-nude? Not even close.



And really, folks...stop acting like she's fallen into a bottomless hell-hole. From all indications, even this poor attempt at a photo shoot, she's making her way back.



Sure, she could use a few more meals to flesh herself out, so to speak, but she's still attractive.



I think the whole situation has been blown WAY out of proportion. House arrest for smoking cigarettes? I didn't realize that they were so strict over there. I mean, I abhor smoking, but I wouldn't turn my back on someone who smokes, even



Sheesh. You guys are acting like she's Britney Spears. Now that is a downfall.



No, give Ai Kago some time, she's on her way back, it seems.



I hope she succeeds. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... umbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':huh:' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... umbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />

[tsukinobyouin]

[quote name='palsunstar' post='57185' date='Jan 20 2009, 01:14 PM']I think the whole situation has been blown WAY out of proportion. House arrest for smoking cigarettes? I didn't realize that they were so strict over there. I mean, I abhor smoking, but I wouldn't turn my back on someone who smokes, even



Sheesh. You guys are acting like she's Britney Spears. Now that is a downfall.[/quote]



I'm not really sure why you're bringing this up. Are you saying you think it's blown out of proportion in Japan or by the responders to this post? People here are reacting to this specific photoshoot, not to her scandal as a whole. Also, while I'm not going to argue the whole significance of her smoking cigarettes thing since you're way late to that party, remember that the cigarettes weren't the whole of her scandal. She was also photographed going to a hot spring resort with a much older man when dating isn't even allowed in Hello! Project in the first place and continuing to smoke underage just when as she was being given a second chance by her management agency.



That said, some people here (myself included) want her to be succesful and have some kind of comeback, and are just saddened by things like this. Her whole thing is that she's an adult now and that she's learned from her mistakes, learned that she was very childish, spoiled and naiive during her years in Hello!Project. So we'd like to see her prove that by getting out there and doing something in a grown up in a mature way. Instead she's been all over the place and doing things that scream "desperate for attention" rather than "moved on and confident."

[Farrah]

[quote name='TnB' post='57188' date='Jan 20 2009, 02:50 PM']That said, some people here (myself included) want her to be succesful and have some kind of comeback, and are just saddened by things like this. Her whole thing is that she's an adult now and that she's learned from her mistakes, learned that she was very childish, spoiled and naiive during her years in Hello!Project. So we'd like to see her prove that by getting out there and doing something in a grown up in a mature way. Instead she's been all over the place and doing things that scream "desperate for attention" rather than "moved on and confident."[/quote]

This. All that her current attempts at a come back so far have just screamed of "Give me attention!" and all that's going to do is make it even harder for her to regain any ounce of dignity in Japan - it was hard enough she was an idol, but after her scandal doing a photo shoot like this is just making her seem like she's wandering around with no sense of direction.

[Lovely]

[quote name='Pflaume' post='57105' date='Jan 20 2009, 09:44 AM']I don't really know how to comment on her doing this to begin with. Do not want? The pictures unsettle me a little bit, but I can't pinpoint exactly why. Desperation? Low quality photography? General weirdness? Eh.[/quote]



Perhaps it's the fetish shot where she's tied up in purple thread. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lmfao:' />

[palsunstar]

[quote name='TnB' post='57188' date='Jan 20 2009, 11:50 AM'][quote name='palsunstar' post='57185' date='Jan 20 2009, 01:14 PM']I think the whole situation has been blown WAY out of proportion. House arrest for smoking cigarettes? I didn't realize that they were so strict over there. I mean, I abhor smoking, but I wouldn't turn my back on someone who smokes, even



Sheesh. You guys are acting like she's Britney Spears. Now that is a downfall.[/quote]



I'm not really sure why you're bringing this up. Are you saying you think it's blown out of proportion in Japan or by the responders to this post? People here are reacting to this specific photoshoot, not to her scandal as a whole. Also, while I'm not going to argue the whole significance of her smoking cigarettes thing since you're way late to that party, remember that the cigarettes weren't the whole of her scandal. She was also photographed going to a hot spring resort with a much older man when dating isn't even allowed in Hello! Project in the first place and continuing to smoke underage just when as she was being given a second chance by her management agency.



That said, some people here (myself included) want her to be succesful and have some kind of comeback, and are just saddened by things like this. Her whole thing is that she's an adult now and that she's learned from her mistakes, learned that she was very childish, spoiled and naiive during her years in Hello!Project. So we'd like to see her prove that by getting out there and doing something in a grown up in a mature way. Instead she's been all over the place and doing things that scream "desperate for attention" rather than "moved on and confident."

[/quote]



Nothing wrong with bringing something up, as long as it's in context.



Anyway, as I said, the whole thing (everything, including some of the "I feel sorry for Aibon" posts) are being blown out of proportion and are unnecessary.



What has she done since she resurfaced? Several interviews...2 wacky DVD's...a low-budget photo shoot...an actual role (not bit part) in a Sammo Hung film...a tiny come back concert (that was annoying because of the dweebs in the audience)...what did I miss?



I don't believe that she's "desperate for attention" at all. She's working her way back into the spotlight, but I don't believe she's done anything "desperate". This photo shoot, while low-budget, is still nothing to make anyone feel sorry for. No need to feel "saddened" by things like this. If she went full blown nude, showing all of the goods, then I'd say she's desperate, but these shots are tame...even the try at bondage.



Anywho, don't take this the wrong way, I'm not trying to be hostile. I'm just disagreeing with what I see as an unnecessary amount of pity. The things she's been doing are a far cry from seeking pity. She doesn't need that. She needs her fans to support her.



If she does go down the wrong path, there will be no question about it. Right now, she appears to be doing fine...IMO. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... stling.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lmfao:' />

[Tsuki]

I pretty much disagree with every single one of your points, palsunstar. Is this really the best she can do? The famed child-star of Morning Musume that everyone (seemingly) loved? ALL of your so-called "tame" attempts to get back into the spotlight strike me as being particularly desperate, and I find it kind of sad that you think that it's "not that bad" until she does full blown nudes. After what she did with her fame and popularity as a child, does she really need to return to this lifestyle as an adult?



Kago has not grown up in my eyes at all, and every thing she has done so far just keeps proving that to me. I wish she'd disappear, keep what little dignity she still has left, and enjoy her life out of the public eye.

[eri]

<img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' /> A matter of perspective I guess.



[quote name='palsunstar' post='57262' date='Jan 21 2009, 09:13 AM']What has she done since she resurfaced? Several interviews...[/quote]

Where she confessed, tabloid style, to all the sensational tidbits of her post-scandal, suicidal life. Where she invited people to pity her.

[quote name='palsunstar' post='57262' date='Jan 21 2009, 09:13 AM']2 wacky DVD's...[/quote]

Totally un-entertaining, uncomfortable shows where she self-identifies as the "failed idol" butt-of-the-joke.

[quote name='palsunstar' post='57262' date='Jan 21 2009, 09:13 AM']a low-budget photo shoot...[/quote]

Exactly! Where everything screams cheap-men's-magazine-$2-whore. And it isn't even sexy!



vs:

[quote name='palsunstar' post='57262' date='Jan 21 2009, 09:13 AM']an actual role (not bit part) in a Sammo Hung film...[/quote]

Yay!

[quote name='palsunstar' post='57262' date='Jan 21 2009, 09:13 AM']a tiny come back concert (that was annoying because of the dweebs in the audience)...what did I miss?[/quote]

This is not a valid point as H!P concerts are inherently rife with dweebs. But yeah, good for her!



I agree that on the grand scale of things, Kago has not resorted to living on the streets, selling her teeth to cloth some baby she had, etc. However, this is all sort of pathetic and desperate. Quite differently, I'd rethink this whole nonsense as provocative and exciting had she released some high quality, artistic full-nude PB that got tons of press. A bunch of lame pervy shots in, like, Weekly Playboy? Pathetic.



[quote name='palsunstar' post='57262' date='Jan 21 2009, 09:13 AM']If she does go down the wrong path, there will be no question about it. Right now, she appears to be doing fine...IMO. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... stling.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':whistling:' />[/quote]

I guess many people think Kago went down the wrong path a long time ago. Considering her image as a pure and sweet child-star, this all seems especially demeaning. Also, nothing Kago has done screams "I am strong! I can overcome! Look up to me!" in the way Namie Amuro did following all of her scandals. Kago has consistently come off as petulant, to fake-sorry, to beaten-down-sorry, to "pity me because I tried to cut my wrists, sniff," and now to this. I don't pity her perse, but this does not smell like career-success to me.

[JPope]

These photos are not "tame", although they aren't "semi-nude", either. I'm kind of surprised that it took this long for an H!P vet to go all high-profile trainwreck on us. Kago may be trying to "work her way back", but come on dude, this is pretty pathetic.

[peachgirldb]

It's a pathetic photoshoot, but I don't think it really says much else other than that. I don't really see anything she's done as particularly seeking attention, including disclosing that she slit her wrists.

[JPope]

[quote name=':Peach' post='57275' date='Jan 21 2009, 02:54 PM']I don't really see anything she's done as particularly seeking attention, including disclosing that she slit her wrists.[/quote]



I don't know, I think anytime someone cuts there wrists in a failed suicide attempt then talks about it to a media outlet, it's attention seeking. If you really want to die, there are foolproof ways of doing it that are transparent to even the stupidest of humans, even Kago. I think that wrist-slitting is almost always more about "LOOK AT ME!!!" and less about "God, I'm ready".

[Lovely]

I feel like we're acting like a circle of school girls. We're gossiping about her perceived predicament in hushed voices and asserting that it must be working against her. Do you really feel that these photographs are indicative or a suffering person and a suffering career, or are you condemning these photographs because her choices are not what you would want for yourself, in her shoes? Or is it because we're bored and it gives us something to talk about? :-) It seems as though many of us are talking about these pictures as though they're showing her snorting cocaine.



On the one hand, I can see how the idol industry, which we support, could have left its mark on her (as said Sabaku Ika). On the other hand, I also remember that she's not a H!P spokesperson anymore, and that she's under no obligation to market herself as though that were still the case. I'm reminded of an article that I read about a mother who brought Britney Spears's latest album for her children, and then acted all surprised and scandalized when her children ran around the house singing If You Seek Amy. Kago is a legal adult, and she's free to redefine herself however she wants.



On a semi-related note, are these sorts of photographs standard fare for the idol industry in Japan? If none of it is out of the ordinary for the average Japanese celebrity...

[peachgirldb]

[quote name='JPope' post='57279' date='Jan 21 2009, 04:04 PM']If you really want to die, there are foolproof ways of doing it that are transparent to even the stupidest of humans, even Kago. I think that wrist-slitting is almost always more about "LOOK AT ME!!!" and less about "God, I'm ready".[/quote]

Threats and cutting may (in some cases) be about attention, but actually attempting to commit suicide is completely different, and I can't believe you would write that.

[tsukinobyouin]

I feel like we're acting like a circle of school girls. We're gossiping about her predicament in hushed voices and they must be working against her: She's seeking attention! She's fallen from grace! She's being exploited! Do you really feel that these photographs are indicative or a suffering person and a suffering career, or are you condemning these photographs because her choices are not what you would want for yourself, in her shoes?

Most of the people talking about her seeking attention aren't talking about these photographs as an isolated issue, rather these photographs as part of a long string of activities on Kago's part. If the first thing Kago had done as part of her "comeback" had been a couple of badly taken semi-racy photos, it would look more like she was entering the gravure industry on the bottom rung. Instead, she's done a series of things that eri already detailed pretty clearly in her post that make her seem like an unhappy, or at the very least confused, girl struggling for recognition after being kicked out of the spotlight.

Kago is a legal adult, and she's free to redefine herself however she wants.

Any artist, adult or not, is free to redefine themselves however they want. The problem is she's not really redefining herself as anything. At least judging by her own words, she seems to want us to all know she's an adult now and she's learned from her mistakes, stopped being childish and bratty, and has come out of a time of depression a better, more grown up person. She hasn't done anything so far to prove that. Maybe she's not as bratty/spoiled/naiive, but she seems lost rather than confident, mature, and moved on.