Ai Iijima

Ai Iijima (飯島 愛) was a Japanese media personality, writer, activist and actress who was an AV idol early in her career, starring in more than 100 films.

She later became the hostess on the nighttime television program, Gilgamesh Night, and transitioned away from AV work.

After ending her career in adult videos, Iijima released a musical single Naisho DE Ai!

Ai!

In addition to adult videos in the early 1990s, Iijima also acted in a number of softcore V-cinema works including the August 1992 comedy Yuke yuke AV shinsengumi: Tenshi Tachi no H na daisensō (ゆけゆけＡＶ新撰組　天使たちのＨな大戦争) (with Hitomi Shiraishi), and the erotic suspense comedy Costume Gourmet: T-Back Bride (コスチューム・グルメ Tバックの花嫁), 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 Naisho DE Ai!

Ai!

Iijima had been popular in Taiwan since the early 1990s when her adult videos began to be imported and she remained a celebrity there for her entire career.

Iijima's adult video (AV) debut was All That Sexy Venus for the Tairiku Shobo Company's FOXY label in April 1992.

She quickly became the top AV actress of the time, appearing in over 100 films.

She entered mainstream media as 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".

(ナイショ DE アイ!アイ!) in July 1993 and soon became a regular on daytime TV talk shows.

Iijima became involved in campaigns to educate the public about HIV/AIDS, a cause that few Japanese celebrities were willing to undertake.

(ナイショ DE アイ!アイ!) in July 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.

In December 1993, she debuted in mainstream film playing an angel come down to Earth in the Toei Company fantasy Purupuru tenshi teki kyūjitsu (ぷるぷる 天使的休日).

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 appears 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."

Iijima also worked in video games as well.

In 1995, she also voice acted for the main protagonist of the video game Magical Pop'n.

In 1997, she released a video game for the Sega Saturn called Good Island Cafe.

The game operates like an interactive movie, where players can make clips in black and white, and watch an interview with her.

The game is entirely in Japanese.

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.

She visited Taiwan where her book was a best-seller on a promotional tour in February 2001 and was "besieged by journalists" at the airport.

Her novel became the basis for a toned down three-hour television series starring Mari Hoshino which was broadcast by Fuji Television in two parts in September 2001.

Another adaptation of the novel with Saki Kagami in the lead role was released as an R15 rated theatrical film by Toho in October 2001 titled Platonic Sex.

This version had Iijima credited as author (原作) and supervisor (監修).

Iijima's catchphrase, "watashi teki ni" ("my way"), became well known due to the popularity of the book and the movies.

It was also at this time that Iijima became involved in campaigns to educate the public about HIV/AIDS, a cause that few Japanese celebrities were willing to undertake.

By 2004, the book had been translated into Korean, Chinese, Spanish and Italian.

On December 24, 2008 at about 3:30 p.m. (JST), Iijima was found dead in her 21st floor Tokyo apartment.

Pathology examination showed she had died of pneumonia shortly after retiring from the public eye.

Born as Matsue Okubo (大久保松恵) in Tokyo, Japan, Iijima 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 establishments, snack bars, Ginza hostess clubs, and in enjo kōsai (paid dating).