Aiko Kaito promotes road safety
Entertainment ( 23 )
TOKYO —
The police transportation department presented “talent” Aiko Kaito, 25, with a thank you letter this week for her contribution to raising public awareness for the “National Autumn Transportation Safety Campaign,” set to begin September 21. Kaito is the campaign’s poster girl.
The posters were emblazoned with the catchphrase, “Yuzuri ‘Ai’ no machi, Tokyo” (Giving others the right of way in Tokyo), playing on her name. Kaito, who appeared at the police headquarters in a pristine white dress, was all smiles as she received the letter of thanks and a plush toy of the police mascot “Pipo-kun” from transportation department chief Keiji Takizawa.
Kaito said she herself drives a car around her hometown of Chiba, and stressed the importance of safe driving. “To protect yourself and those around you, driving safely is so important. I hope everyone has the courtesy to give others the right of way.”
The National Autumn Transportation Safety Campaign will run from Sept 21-30, and the posters will be on display at stations and on trains until the end of the month.
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23 Comments
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Makun
Hah, Pipo-Kun. They really do have a mascot for everything. I wonder if Aiko secretly has road rage.
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Disillusioned
Saw a road rage incident the other day in Chiba. One of those little treasure trucks collecting old bikes, TVs, etc. was blocking an intersection onto a main road while he was talking on his phone. A car coming out of the minor road started abusing the guy. He moved his little truck just enough for the other car to pass and words were exchanged as he passed. The driver of the gomi collection truck then jumped out of his little truck and started chasing the other car screaming and punching the car. The driver of the car panicked and accelerated out of the intersection straight into another car. The driver of the treasure truck ran back to his little truck and left the scene in a hurry. I also left the scene in a hurry. They obviously haven't seen this campaign.
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KallyPygous
There's plenty of gore and violence in Japanese media - how about a campaign featuring realistic depictions of road accidents, instead of some submissive bimbo with a fluffy toy?
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thethudelh
I think she is really pretty. Also the mascot is cute. They should do things like that in the USA. People here can't drive correctly to save their lives. Working as a firefighter I see alot of accidents. My company had to cut some lady out of her car last Thursday after she hit a garbage truck.
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chuckers
I saw the post this morning and was wondering who she was. The poster was a cross the street so I couldn't make out the name from that distance.
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Mittsu
Right of way isn't the issue - shooting red lights, not indicating, parking randomly. She should have addressed those.
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kirakira25
I agree. If she wants to promote road safety, what about also bringing up talking on cellphones, jumping red lights, drunk-driving, not strapping kids down safely in child seats, speeding, driving erratically - these are the real issues for road safety here.
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Richard_III
She's the weather announcer on Mezamashi Terebi every morning between 7-8am. Due to the pitch of her voice only dogs and teenagers can hear what she's saying unfortunately.
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Altria
Does she even have a drivers license?
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gogogo
Why is the nation obsessed with talentless "talento" and promotion of products.
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chuckers
I am at work by then. I get my morning weather report from Iguchi Reine during Morning Satellite. She is my clue to get out of bed and get moving.
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TumbleDry
wow... even the mascot looks serious... I'll stop drunk driving!
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Yelnats
I slammed my bike into the side of a car that ran a red light, and got knocked out. Ambulance to the hospital. No one saw it happen and the person escaped. I think cops should stand at lights and stop signs and ticket like crazy. Stop signs are just decorative pieces of art here. Dangerous place on the streets in Japan. She should have been addressing that.
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bobbafett
in my country police mascots are for kids under the age of 10 when the cops visit the schools and talk about their jobs etc.
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Wakarimasen
Introduce cameras at junctions to nab the red light runners. Pipo kun is cute but pointless. J-cops suck (see article on knicker nicker and countless previous entries on J-cops activities). Weather shows in Jpan are also designed for the mentally retarded...
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The758
I couldn't stop laughing long enough to get past this part
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Weasel
Maybe "Pipo-kun" will be useful whenever some idiot cuts me off in traffic nearly causing a wreck?
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stirfry
a bimbo and a stuffed-whatever...yeah that'll work
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Beelzebub
Um, let's see. Since "Noripi" led a campaign to eradicate drugs -- and we all know what happened to her -- I predict in the near future Ms. Kaito will be cited for either 1) excessive speed; 2) drunken driving; or 3) hit and run.
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Harry_Gatto
altria: Why should she not have a driving licence?
Anyway, to stay on topic, she should be in the schools promoting road safety to children and parents. Japanese parents, Japanese kids, Japanese pedestrians in general and, cyclists in Japan (note the careful wording) have the brains of a rocking horse when it come to road safety. The parents don't understand the meaning of the words and their kids never will.
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DenDon
what an amateur, not even a hint of a salute or guts pose. how does she expect to get her message across or be taken seriously?
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bobbafett
DenDon,
Good post. made me laugh a lot. Thank you.
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womanforwomen
And Richard III's comment made me laugh. I think the colleges that train these 'talentos' pay a lot of emphasis on the voices and one more thing; they do something with their lips and mouths, that looks silly and ugly.
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