Tsunku should sign Aibon to TNX

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Aibon, circa January 2005 at the height of her success with Hello Project’s spinoff duo, 'W,' where she starred with Nono, a long-time friend and co-performer at H!P.

With news of Ai Kago, otherwise known as “Aibon,” resurfacing in a recent interview – in which she appears to want to answer directly as to why she was suspended, then fired, from the Japanese all-female singing and dancing company, Hello Project, in 2006 and again last year – speculation is now swirling about the singer’s future.

Here’s an answer: Have Tsunku sign her on to his separate production company, TNX – a group that does not have the restrictions that Hello Project contracts place on their female performers – i.e., no dating and no smoking. Violating those prohibitions kept Aibon in hot water as she was suspended because of a smoking scandal in early 2006, then canned permanently in early 2007 when, after rejoining H!P briefly as an entry-level clerk, decided to break off completely and live with her boyfriend, a man 20 years her senior.

Ami Tokito, far right, fronts The Possible on March 11, 2007, at Shibuya-O East, a popular live-music club in Tokyo.

Signing Aibon to TNX would bypass any political repercussions with the other more loyal, rules-following singers currently with H!P. It’s just a better fit. Even Goto Maki, the legendary solo performer who finally left H!P late in 2007, might have more shots at different opportunities with a setup like TNX, which is more experimental and less traditional than is Hello Project.

It has been a long and winding road for Aibon, whose high-octane, power-packed voice was a staple both in Morning Musume and “W” through the early and mid-2000s.

The year-long soap opera between the time Aibon was outed in 2006 by the Japanese sleaze zine, “Friday” – which which possessed photos catching her smoking – and the dating fiasco in early 2007 was torture for the singer’s international fan following. Still, when news broke a few days ago about Aibon’s six-part video interview – which is now being broadcast in stages on YouTube and other video sites – most fans rejoiced in the outside chance she would return to singing in some capacity.

Tokito has the gravure look, replete with obligatory glasses which, supporters contend, makes her more attractive – but the voice is sadly lacking.

But why would TNX be the answer?

Tsunku created TNX, it would appear, for just these types of situations. Right now TNX is repository for several developing groups, led by The Possible, a six-member troupe spawned from the Hello Project Eggs that has been fronted by gravure model and singer Ami Tokito. Though Tokito certainly has the look, her voice lacks punch.

Imagine, then, Aibon fronting The Possible! Aibon, despite two years away from the stage, is actually younger than is Tokito, and she has a mature look that Tsunku appears to want for The Possible (the group’s major concert DVD last year was taped at the Shibuya-O East nightclub in Tokyo). Plus, she has the pipes to help inspire The Possible’s talented but raw youngsters on how to project a solid sound come concert time.

Aibon, right, with Nono in 2005 during 'W’s' heyday. That reunion is unlikely, but an Aibon comeback of some kind appears to be in the beginning stages.