Scandals

Kago's career under Hello! Project ended abruptly when, on February 9th, a tabloid magazine called FRIDAY published photos of her smoking in a restraunt while underage. In Japan, the legal age to smoke is 20. Aibon was photographed smoking on January 27, 2006, ten days before her eighteenth birthday. Up-Front Agency confirmed this act and she was suspended from Hello! Project indefinitely. FRIDAY is the same tabloid that had pushed Yaguchi Mari to cut all ties to Hello! Project and quit Morning Musume almost a year before.

However, there was still hope. This did not totally crush young Aibon's career with her label. Aibon, having lost weight and taken on a more mature appearence, appealed through an interview with FRIDAY magazine, to her fans. She said that she is working in the agency's office and backstage at Morning Musume events. However the date for her comeback was still uncertain, even at this point.

Unfortunately for her, another tabloid magazine published photos of her and Ishimoto Yasuyuki (a nightclub manager and low-budget movie maker) alone and driving away in a car. Aibon said that the two were friends, but her contract was terminated on March 26, 2007 nevertheless.

Below are pictures from FRIDAY magazine, where Kago was interviewed. Credit to whoever scanned them. ♥