From Pop Star to Hostess: Former Idol’s New Gig at a Secretive Lounge Bar

Former Morning Musume member Ai Kago has been accused of entertaining customers at a bar.

On May 28, Flash reported that Kago allegedly works at a bar, sharing pictures of her going to work there.

Photos showed Kago entering a building, covering her face with her outerwear. Despite her effort to hide her face, the media outlet confirmed it was Kago, stating that the building houses the lounge bar where she works.

A restaurant staff working nearby said, “Kago went to work. She works as an employee at a lounge bar on the 9th floor of the building,” and added, “She usually serves at the customer’s table.”

When a reporter mentioned, “There’s no information related to the lounge bar when I search its name on the internet,” the associate explained, “It’s a private shop. Kago learned about the lounge bar through her husband’s friend.” The associate added, “Kago comes to work occasionally.”

Two hours after her shift started, Kago was seen leaving the lounge bar with a large man. She took a taxi to a club located in Roppongi. She stayed at the club for about an hour before returning to the lounge bar.

The exact reason why Kago started working at the lounge bar remains unknown.

A reporter speculated, “Kago, a mother of two, has continued her activities as a freelancer on YouTube and in music. There have been offers for internet broadcasts, stage performances, and movie appearances, but many entertainment officials are hesitant due to various incidents.”

The incidents the entertainment reporter mentioned include allegations of smoking and Yakuza involvement. Kago faced severe criticism when she was caught smoking several times as a minor.

Last year, photos of Kago enjoying a trip to Korea with a Yakuza executive were released, raising suspicions of her involvement with the Yakuza. At the time, Kago claimed she was unaware he was a Yakuza, but the Japanese public is convinced of her involvement.

Kago received a lot of love, being called the “nation’s little sister” due to her cute appearance in the early days of her debut.

Kago married in 2011 after becoming pregnant before marriage but divorced in 2015. She remarried in 2016 and gave birth to her second child.