Megumi Yasu serves as poster girl for female firefighter recruitment drive

Didn't I read awhile ago on Japan Today about the increasing popularity of pole dancing in Japan as a form of exercise? Seems like a natural tie-in to this campaign.

Assuming, of course, that Japanese firefighters ride down firepoles like their North American counterparts.

"If I wasn’t a celebrity, I’d like to join. I’m thinking about it.”

Yes, being a celeb is a career-preventing pursuit. Keep thinking. Can't hurt.

"If I wasn’t a celebrity, I’d like to join. I’m thinking about it.”

Megumi, what ever you do, don't lose the fire chief's business card. Once your career fades as all J-actress/models do eventually, you may need that new career in fire fighting.

I don't have much confidence in the ability of the two firefighters on stage with her.

They look like lego characters. I wonder if they are getting some royalties for that...

those two dudes look angry scary. I was going to join but now I won't. those guys would probably beat me up and take my lunch money.

female firefighters in Japan are needed to make tea for their male colleagues.... as far as I know they dont actually do any firefighting.

i really don`t think there are any female "firefighers" in japan, either. they are OLs. i am sure there are some women out there who want to and CAN pass the test. i am pretty sure they are not allowed, yet.

There are. I teach a few of them. They pass the tests, do the training and then... sit in the office as OLs. And complain to me about it all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZzGKsDbTzU

I wonder why the women are staying out of this. Does anyone else know why? hehehe

Even in the US i have not seen a woman firefighter personally. Of all professions, i would say this is the biggest challenge.

Lego-land is recruiting female firefighters?

I wonder why the women are staying out of this. Does anyone else know why? hehehe

I have no idea what you are talking about.

Given the number of recent stories about firefighters stealing women's underwear ot assaulting women (see previous J-Todays) I will be locking my doors at night and keeping my undies safe.

Why does everything in this country have to be accompanied by a childish mascot?

Because the maturity levels here indicate that they need a childish mascot to appeal to the population? Kawaiiiiiiiiii!

Where is the obligatory question about her love life?

I guess if you want to convey something to japanese, it must be by way of cartoon characters. Humm...............................

with hawt chix like that!! where do i sign up!! :P :P hahah

"Why does everything in this country have to be accompanied by a childish mascot?"

And hawt chicks??... well i guess chicks are used in every country.... hahahah

Why don't they use actual female firefighters in the ad campaign? I think the a woman contemplating a career as a firefighter would identify more with them than an actress/model. Cuteness doesn't work all the time.

It says a lot about the Japanese male psyche that they might be more drawn to a lego-land figure than to the macho image of doing battle with the elements to save property, life and limb. Yeah, I know - we don't need another hero. And BTW I have worked with many a female fire-fighter and let me assure readers that (ready for the cringe?) they can do just as good a job as any bloke!

If I needed to be carried out of a burning building, I'd much rather a man be doing it.

Agree with wontond. Why don't they use actual female firefighters over some tarento bint!! As for reaching the magical mark of 100,000, I think that figure is a bit optimistic.

What she is recruiting for is local volunteer fire brigades消防団, not the actual municipal full-time fire brigades消防署. Every community has one and they back up the actual fire department, rarely rushing into a burning building. They also provide manpower for searches for missing old ladies and small children and help out at community festivals and other events. They have many duties that do not require a high level of physical strength, so women who are at home during the day can be an important source of manpower (womanpower?). Japan Today has again translated their news in a misleading way...

Why even rescue victims from burning buildings if they will be turned away by 17 hospitals and die in transit? Could this be the real reason for female "fire fighters", or are there simply no more real men left in Japan? And why the hell do the cartoon puppets look angry while they are smiling? Megumi, if you can answer these questions, you can put out my fire.

Why would she want to make you join ?? What on earth is the logic ?? She would be the last type of women joining...might make more boys sign up though.

It seems they just pluck some random people to advertise anything these days. What the relation between her and firefighters is I don't know. Of all the tarento, there must be one out there whose dad/brother/sister must be in part of the wellie wearing brigade!!!

What she is recruiting for is local volunteer fire brigades消防団, not the actual municipal full-time fire brigades消防署

Ah, suddenly everything becomes clear. Hmmmm....if they get more female members, the oyaji-tachi that dominate the shouboudan at present will have to forego the regular drinking parties with paid female companions, which seemed to be their sole motivation for enrolling in these groups, according to my ex.

Firefighters near me job around the neighborhood all day, ensuring that t hey will be exhausted when a fire does break out.

GRRRR! From the photo I thought this was some new twisted anime!

wontond, cuteness works all the time for me. . . -=p

She can save me from a burining building anytime. Wait she can just drop by anytime no fire needed.

Very strange recrutment compaign, why cartoons? The matter is serious, i thought.

Very strange recrutment compaign, why cartoons? The matter is serious, i thought.

you haven't been to japan, have you