I have a BIG crush...

[mark]

...on Itakura Kaori, the pretty young Japanese woman on NHK's "Learning Japanese" TV show. She co-hosted the show with her Dad, who speaks English with a perfect North American accent. During each episode of the program, they are joined by an assortment of international gaijin who go over key points of Nihongo grammar. Kaori is obviously intelligent and funny, which makes her even more attractive.

I'm sure she's happily married to some lucky Japanese guy already, but in my dreams, we have our own intercultural paradise...at least until the 30-minute program ends!! :) Ah, well..........

Does anyone else know anything about her, like where she studied English, etc?



Mark

[kiisu]

Is this program still on?
What day/time/channel?
Thanks.

[Bluedog]

Hell yes. I love it when she says "Maybe next week I'll be digital shooting in your neighbourhood". She can film in my bordello anytime.

She definitely rocks. I'd have to fight you for her, but you did start this thread so you obviously have more initiative than I do : (

I kind of love and hate that show. The gaijins on the show can obviously speak better japanese than they do on the program and it's annoying to watch them pretend to stumble over the words. Still, it's good for my japanese, and Kaori manages to be super cute without being ditzy like the game show girls often are.

[Anonymous]

from: http://www.so-net.ne.jp/CYBERJAPAN/contents/covergirls/Kaori/indexE.html
Itakura Kaori: Profile
Cyberjapan March 99 Covergirl

Very popular model in Japanese commercial "Acerora Drink" and fitness club "EXXUS" and Fashion Magazine "Can-Cam" (Japan best selling Fashion Magazine), Kaori Itakura now show up in CYBERJAPAN as a "COVER GIRL"! Get ready for this! 174cm slim body attractive as hell!

She was born in New York and studied in New Zealand in high school , now she is an university student at Keio (Japan top 3 prestigious university) and she is studying politics and Chinese.

We did an interview in English. She is a very smart and interesting girl. We talked about her private life, modelling job and also the differences between the USA and Japan reagrding the Fashion trends and lifestyle.

[westsan]

My buddy (2) are the gaijin guests on that show,

Maybe I could hook it up... but she would likely fall for me first.






PS: You are right that those guys speak much better Japanese than they lead on to... I used to teach them Jspeak when they worked for me.

[Bluedog]

So trip hop, not only do you know everything about everything but you've also interviewed Kaori???

Nice.

[westsan]

triphop is a Japan afficionado

But that Kaori chic is 1 in a million. Them chics are all over 'cept Roppongi

[westsan]

westsan wrote:

> triphop is a Japan afficionado
>
> But that Kaori chic is 1 in a million. Them chics are all over
> 'cept Roppongi

whoops that did not come out right.
There are millions of chics like that out there is what I meant.

[Shan]

Really surprised you all think she's so great. She really annoys me when I see her on TV. I think she's exactly like 99% of the other girls on TV and on the streets. Her "digital filming" is one of the dumbest things I've ever seen, and I think the way she speaks is more saccarine than diet cola...(sigh) I guess I will never understand what men find so attractive about some women here!

[mark]

That's just it!! I LOVE the fact that she is so saccharine and seemingly perfect!! There's just something about her that seems unreal...can't put my finger on it, but that's it in a nutshell.

I'm guessing that she's married, as her family name is different from her Father's (assuming that old guy really is her Dad)...and yes, those Gaijin on the show are really annoying. The only one who seems halfway cool is the Chinese girl. The 3 dudes are just gooballs...no offense to any of them, as that's how Gaijin guys act on Japanese TV to get famous.

Hell, who am I kidding...I'd gladly act like a jackass if it meant I could be a star on national Japanese TV!!! ;)


Peace,

Mark


(PS., Kaori...call me, ne!! Lol...)

[westsan]

If you think you can do it mark... let me hook you up!!
send me an email describing who and what you look like and I will introduce you to the agent that casts all them!

[the dude]

Mark,
She ain't that special. quit tryin to paint your ceiling when watchin Japanese educational shows and practice learning the language instead!

[mark]

Thanks for all the responses...

I concede that maybe Kaori isn't that special, but hey, that's what crushes are all about. I like her because she's kind of cute in her own quirky manner. It doesn't need to make logical sense, as we all like different things in people.

I forget who actually said it, but there's a famous Spanish quote:

"Quando amor no es locura, no es amor!"

Or, Eigo de, "When love is not crazy, it's not love!"


Peace,


Mark
"Saving all my love for you..."

[Chief Wiggum]

I've only seen the show a couple of times. They spend way too much time speaking English for a show that's supposed to help you with Japanese.

Also, Kaori's father seemed too critical of her.

[westsan]

Chief>>

Did you get on thru IMO?

Did you think that show was for Gaijin to learn english? Haaaaaaaaaaaaahahahaha

Hint: Teach Japanese --- Learn English

[Anonymous]

Different angle: I reckon her Dad rocks!

He is also on a late nite music show often standing close (too close) to that small total dumbass of a guy in the bright suits singing 'Nan daroo' (extremely popular song in Japan at the moment for who knows what reason).

Kaori's Dad .....inspirational! Imagine if every Japanese were as fluent as him!

If I was Japanese I would want him to be my Dad, now that's got to be a good thing, right?

[Shonai Ben]

This program has been on air for at least 5 years.What's the big deal?
Kaori is nothing special to look at.Her dad is cool but the rest of the staff members are just bad actors.
Get a life!

[mark]

Actually, I don't think that guy is her dad...they have different family names. His is Kobayashi and hers is Itakura. (Of course, she could be married...)

In any case, I realize she is no more interesting than most gals in Tokyo...but you gotta remember, I live in Nagasaki, Kyushu, which could easily be termed the "Alabama of Japan!!"


Mark

[the dude]

Mark,

I've had more fun in Kyushu than any other place in the 10 years I've been here. Fukouka is sweet! Just out side of there is a ton of jumpin places too. There's a beach bar called sunset that has 100s of hotties (and cheap accomidations near by). Don't waste your time in front of the TV bro! Get out there and get you some tang!

[Dr.Drew]

Lol....big-ups to "the dude"...it's great that we can still use terms like poontang here in Japan without being slammed as un-PC (at least, not by the Japanese gals!)

I also live in Kyushu, and while it's no Osaka or Tokyo by far, it's still got it's fair share of the fairer sex. Never had any problems finding plenty of "conversation partners"...heheheh.

While we are on the subject of TV Language programs, isn't it funny how many truly awful English ones are out there...NHK must have decided that "No, we can't just have ONE atrociously bad Eikaiwa show on the air, we need at least 4 or 5 completely unrelated ones...preferably 'taught' by folks who have absolutely no formal background in EFL/ESL training or education!!"

If anyone thinks I'm wrong, I challenge them to watch that brainless, green-haired goofball they have on TV currently, and see if their opinion is still the same. That joker has to be the craziest example of someone who would be a complete loser back home, yet has become a novelty here in Japan...

[kurogane]

PPPOF (Priggishly Pedantic Point of Fact )

Keio Uni is one of the three top PRIVATE universities in Japan. Picky, perhaps, but worthy of note, at least for those of us who busted our humps to get into one of the REAL (i.e. National) top three univerisities in Japan.

AND, she's too skinny, dude. Nice looking girl, though.
XOX

[the dude]

Dr.Drew,

Kyushu is loads better than Tokyo or Osaka. The bar Sunset has the best end of summer party I've ever been to, and there are islands that are rented for weekends just for the parties. There ain't no trim gettin away when the last boat iis gone! The hotties too. South American dancers, lonely Eng. teachers, or temporary travelers every where you look and (with the exception of the agro soldiers) you don't get any of that jealousy crap from the guys, cause there's enough ____ for everyone to go around! I used to go see a Japanese buddy of mine living there and even though he couldn't speak a word of English, we'd end up w/ hotties galore! Tokyo and Osaka are kindergarten in comparrison. Kyushu will make you imune to all that is good and holy!

[Dr.Drew]

So......is Kaori married or not??

[2paclives]

If ya like frigid chicks who are colder than a freezer that hasnt been defrosted for a cupla years, yeah that Kaori women is for you. But if you like a warm cutie then go check out that Acom chick Mayumi! She`s a hot little cutie!

[reepo]

Do you pay your NHK dues?
Kaori is bait to lure unsuspecting non paying gaijin into their trap.

[Dr.Drew]

Actually, I noticed Mayumi, the ACOMU chick as well...she is in some really nice swimsuit calendars at the local Bookstore.

She is cute, but has absolutely NO rack to speak of...nonetheless, I'd give her my "rising interest rate" any day of the week!! ;)


"Hajimete mo, ACOMU!"