The Marmot’s Hole

Came across something rather curious over at Japan Today:

TOKYO — Ai Iijima had precious little idea what speaking at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan entailed, or what the FCC was for that matter.

But finding out she’d be on equal footing with personages like Prime Minster Junichiro Koizumi, soccer legend Diego Maradona and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, she proudly claimed her appearance recently as “revolutionary,” while jokingly asking the crowd if there was anyone against her being the invited speaker on the night.

The former porn star, now a TV “talent,” showed up in a clean-cut, charcoal gray suit with an elegant, rose brooch pinned to her bosom — a far cry from how she dressed back in 1992, when as a rebellious 20-year-old, she made her first adult movie, following stints working in karaoke joints, snack bars and Ginza hostess clubs.

OK, porn stars going mainstream isn’t all that big a deal. If Ron Jeremy can do it (albeit not too successfully), why not Iijima. But this, however, deserves attention:

“If I ever become a politician, that would spell the end of Japan,” joked Iijima, who once had dinner with then Health and Welfare Minister Junichiro Koizumi. On that occasion, the current prime minister entertained her with tales on fornication between dragonflies [emphasis mine].

I’m trying to picture President Roh Moo-hyun engaged in off-color discussion with someone like Jin Do-hee, yet for some reason, I can’t.

Anyway, Ai Iijima.com (WARNING: NOT work safe) has a ton of very low-quality pics. Better quality stuff can be found here (also, needless to say, not work safe).

And, of course, the official website of the Prime Minister of Japan — apparently the most risque of the bunch — can be found here.