Blog update: “Heheヾ(^ ▽^)ノ”

Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 8/30 blog update, titled “Heheヾ(^ ▽^)ノ“:

Good morning
It’s Maimi

Including today,
there’s only 2 days left in August

We had practice for the play starting on September 22nd, “CAT’SEYE”, again yesterday…

It seems that my co-star Berryz Koubou’s Sudou Maasa-chan had a job several days earlier where she had to use her physical strength,

and she came to the practice venue covered in compresses

“My muscles are soreσ(^_^；)” Maasa said…

In the play, she performs the role of the mature and sexy “Kisugi Rui”…

Yesterday,
though Maasa’s voice was sexy,
her walking was awkward,
and she said “Ow, ow, ow, ow” when she sat down… It seemed really bad

While we were talking during break,
I said
“Eh~(*≧m≦*) That’s funny~ヽ(≧▽≦)/”

and started hitting Maasa hard…

“Maimi-chan That hurts, that hurts…ヽ（゜ロ゜；）ノ”

………Huh!(°∇°;)

…………I’m really sorry…m(__)m

I felt bad…_(..)_

Maasa… Get well soon…
I’ll be more careful with her

After practice,
we had a recording,

and the conversation with the director turned to “Let’s try listening to the background chatter on an old song we recorded“

“Background chatter” is things like
“Ya~y!!”
and “Fu~!!” in the background of a song,

and though we can’t usually listen to it on its own like that, there are various machines at the recording studio,

so we were able to listen to just the background chatter

The background chatter for that song, in order to give it a fun atmosphere,

back then the director told us “Continue being noisy until I say ‘OK’“……

All of ℃-ute crowded around the mic, and we were really, really noisy,

and when someone would say something funny, everyone laughed a lot

Though it was several years earlier, I flashbacked to the time of the recording,

and it was really nostalgic~

The sound of everyone having fun made me feel happy

Well then, today I’ll upload a picture of ℃-ute~

(1)

I’ll also attach a picture with Chisato taken earlier

(2)

I’ll enjoy today too

Have a wonderful day, everyone…

Blog update: “Shounen Sunday( 〃▽〃)”

Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 8/29 blog update, titled “Shounen Sunday( 〃▽〃)“:

Good morning
It’s Maimi

Today is the release day of “Shounen Sunday”,

in which Airi and myself appear on the front cover and in the opening segment

(1)

The photoshoot was in Okinawa

Several years earlier, Airi and I had the conversation

“Let’s take a trip there someday“,

but we’ve come all this way without being able to make that wish come true

But when we went to Okinawa this time,

even though it was for a photoshoot,

we went to the beach together,
we ate delicious things, we decorated a lamp with coral and shells (2)…,

It was like our wish was granted, and it was really, really fun

We kept laughing the e~ntire time (lol)

I think a lot of that fun atmosphere is packed into our feature,

so those who are saying “I haven’t seen it yet“,
please be sure to check it out

(3)

Ah~
I want to have a ℃-ute concert there~… Okinawa

Changing the subject, I made a mistake like this the other day…

When I was at home by myself, I went into the kitchen and saw something that looked like a souvenir…

“What could it be What could it be(・∀・)”

…When I opened the box, there were chocolate pastries inside…

…And, the next day
During breakfast

Mom “Oh my (lol) Mai, did you open the souvenir that ○○ (←my brother’s name) bought”

“Eh…Σ(￣□￣)! Who was it for”

Mom “It’s for his coworkers Right(^-^;”

Brother “Ah… But it’s no big deal”

“You’re kidding(゜Д゜；) I’m sorry~(x_x;) Ah The souvenirs I got in Ishikawa Take what’s left of thatO(><)O"

(My brother went travelling at the same time that I went to Ishikawa for a photoshoot)

Mom “I guess you have no choice but to take the souvenirs she got in Ishikawa, huh(lol)ヽ(^^)”

Brother “(lol) It’s alright”

In the end, my brother declined to take them, and left empty-handed…

Just as my brother was leaving the house,

my mom asked “You’re really alright with not taking the souvenirs Maimi got in Ishikawa~” (lol)

Brother “(^^; I’m alright”

…While my mom and brother were having that exchange, I was in a trance looking for my missing belt

“It’s not here~(-ε-;）” ←I was making a face like that…

Mom “Look Mai’s angry that you’re not taking her souvenirs(lol)”

“Th, that’s not itΣ(゜□゜;) I’m looking for my belt~O(><)O"

I had that kind of flustering morning(´□`)

But, if something like this happened when I was in elementary school, we would've immediately fought~

I’m grateful to my brother for forgiving me I’m grateful(*’-‘)

I mustn’t recklessly open things I’m not familiar with…(゜-゜;)

I’ll reflect on my ways!!

Well then, today I’ll head out cheerfully

Have a wonderful day, everyone…

Maimi Sightings for August 28th

Fellow ℃-ute member Okai Chisato shared this 2-shot with Maimi in her update today on the official ℃-ute blog.

The Otona no Mugicha blog uploaded this 2-shot of Maimi with fellow ℃-ute member Nakajima Saki.

Check out blog!project for full translations of the other ℃-ute and Hello! Project members’ blog updates.

Blog update: “♪Yajima Maimi♪”

Here’s the translation for Maimi’s third update on the “CAT’S♥EYE” A-version blog, titled “♪Yajima Maimi♪“:

Good evening★
It’s Yajima Maimi!!

I’m sorry that I’m updating today, despite being in-charge of yesterday’s update(>_<)

Today I had practice for the first time in awhile(・∀・)

We focused on Hitomi and Toshio's scenes together,

and their relationship in the original work is really important,

so while listening to the director Suzuki Sanae-san's advice, we repeated the scene countless times.

Whenever I got it right, I could understand what I did better by a little,

and there are a lot of parts I want to improve more and more,

so yeah!! I've gotta do my best…(^^)/

And then,
the practice for the "stolen from side" always begins at night,

and I took a picture with Nacky (Nakajima Saki-chan), who arrived at the practice venue an hour early, so I'll uploa~d it!!(・∀・)

By the way, we're doing full movement in the practice for "stolen from side" too!!(^-^)v

The "stealing side",
and the "stolen from side",

I want to look closer and closer into their stories before the performance starts, and work to create a wonderful play with everyone!!(o^-’)b

There's only 25 days until the performance…!!

I'll combine my power with everyone and do my best＼(^o^)／

Blog update: “℃-ute special site”

Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 8/28 blog update, titled “℃-ute special site“:

Good morning
It’s Maimi

I think there are people who are already aware,

but a special ℃-ute site was launched V(^O^)

I saw a little bit of it with the other ℃-ute members yesterday,

and it has the commercial for the new single coming out on September 5th,

“Aitai Aitai Aitai na”,
that will air on TV from now

There’s also a chronology of ℃-ute’s history

On the chronology, there’s also pictures and video clips from those times,

and it made all of the members excited yesterday

Everyone is so young…
It was nostalgic

While watching the videos, various memories like
“Ah~, back then, I was warned a lot about this part, so I was really, really nervous at the performance…”

came back to me

I’ll be happy if those who’ve known about ℃-ute for a long time think “How nostalgic~” and remember back to that time,

and if those who only discovered ℃-ute recently can learn more and more about us

Everyone, please check it out

Yesterday,
we learned the choreography for the coupling tracks of “Aitai Aitai Aitai na”,

“Saikou Music”
and “Kanashiki Heaven”

Anyhow, the choreography for “Saikou Music” is fun

I think it’s easy to remember, so when we perform it at an event or concert, I hope everyone will be sure to memorize it

And then, the tempo of “Kanashiki Heaven” is faster, so I was frantically trying to keep up…(゜o゜;)

The instant I mad a mistake, I was unable to grasp the timing to jump back in, so I stood still for awhile……(°∇°;)

There are a lot of parts like that,

so I really concentrated and did my best

I have to do my best so that my body can memorize it, and so that I can be cool and sexy by the time we perform it…

Alright
Today I will practice for the play “CAT’SEYE” for the first time in awhile

I’ll do my best fired-up today

Please have a wonderful day everyone

p.s.
Today’s pictures are of ℃-ute all together…

(1)
A picture from the summer Hello! Project concerts

(2)
An off-shot from the magazine “JUNON”, which is currently on sale

Lastly,

a 2-shot from the photoshoot for “Shonen Sunday”,

which goes on sale tomorrow,
and features Airi and myself on the cover and in the opening segment…

(3)

I had shekwasha-flavored shaved ice for the first time, and it was really delicious

Please be sure to check this out too

Maimi’s upcoming appearance on “GirlsNews~Hello! Project”

The website for the Enta!371 channel has added the program listing for the upcoming “GirlsNews~Hello! Project #7” program, which can be seen here. As mentioned by Maimi in an
earlier blog update, she sits down with Monica Mitchell for an interview in this episode.

“Girls News~Hello! Project #7” will air continuously through-out the month of September, with the first airing at 9:00AM on September 2nd.

New Maimi profile

℃-ute special encylopedia site“, which includes an extensive timeline of ℃-ute’s history complete with photos and videos, and profiles of each members that have the history of their activities. Maimi’s profile at the special encyclopedia site can be found here.

Blog update: “Buono! liveヾ(^ ▽^)ノ”

Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 8/27 blog update, titled “Buono! liveヾ(^ ▽^)ノ“:

Good afternoon
It’s Maimi

It’s hot~
Everyone, are you alright
You’re not losing to the heat, are you

Last night,
I went to see Buono!’s live

It’s the 5th year of the yearly summer Buono! lives

In addition, it was a really special live taking place after Buono! member Natsuyaki Miyabi-chan’s 20th birthday

I think there are people who have heard about it from Airi, but they designed the outfits themselves, and everyone’s designs were completely different,

and I thought “This is what they each thought of, huh~“… I was impressed

I wanted to see everyone’s outfits closer,
so after the performance they let me see them

With ideas like “This kind of thing often comes to mind~” they were able to make the outfits

In the live itself,
there were exciting songs, songs I got drawn into…

It was really fun

There’s parts where Buono! does choreographed dance,
but there’s also a lot of times where they express themselves freely,

and I always think “Their way of charming people is really skilled~“

The three of them all have individuality…

They’re all charming

When I watched Buono!’s live,

I wanted to have ℃-ute’s end-of-year tour soon

It looks like the next Buono! live is in Osaka, so everyone who is participating, please enjoy it

Everyone in Buono!, give it your all until the end

Well then, here are 2-shots with the Buono! members taken after the performance~

(1)

This was after Tsugunaga Momoko-chan already took off her make-up,
so it’s just her pinky~

(2)

Miya, who turned 20~
She said “Eat up too, Maimi~” and shared the cakes and treats she was given Thanks

(3)
Airi
On the taxi ride home, the two of us were talking the entire time The trivia she was telling me about cockroaches… It gave me chills~(>_<。)

Well~ I won’t lose to the heat today either

Until tomorrow’s update~

Maimi sightings for August 26th

Fellow ℃-ute member Suzuki Airi shared this 2-shot with Maimi in her update today on the official ℃-ute blog, and wrote that Maimi came to see Buono!’s concert today.

℃-ute staff member staffff2 tweeted this picture of Maimi as she filmed for another installment of “Geki Saka”.

Check out blog!project for full translations of the other ℃-ute and Hello! Project members’ blog updates.

Blog update: “Nature is the best( ≧∀≦)”

Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 8/26 blog update, titled “Nature is the best( ≧∀≦)“:

Good morning
It’s Maimi

These past 3 days, I went to Ishikawa prefecture for the first time for a photoshoot

Ishikawa prefecture… It’s a wonderful place

Its old-fashioned townscape and abundance of nature are too charming…

I was really, really at ease

When I was in the tatami room,

I relaxed like
“Ah~(´∀`)“,

and the food was also really delicious

Yesterday’s shoot ended earlier than planned,

so I was able to leisurely shop for souvenirs while strolling aimlessly around the old townscape

(1)

I really love places like this…

It seems they’re well-known for gold leaf,
so I bought some gold leaf facial cream~

Yeah… It was 3 days which soothed my heart and body

When I returned home, my pet dogs welcomed me back

Cologne waited by herself in the hallway until I got out of the bath,

and when I said “Alright Let’s sleep” and got into bed,

Cologne hopped up into my bed too(〃▽〃)

…And, we slept with our bodies close together

Ah~ How cute…(〃ー〃)

But when I woke up this morning,
she wasn’t there…(´□`)

Like always, she slept in my mom and dad’s room…

In the end, that’s where she feels comfortable(lol)

Well, well… it can’t helped…(´・ω・｀)

Now
Today I’ve come to another tranquil place for the filming of the “Geki Saka” segment in the Hikari TV program “Yu! Style ~Hajimeyou!! Jitensha Life~”

(2)

Nature is the best, as expected~

Just now, I was able to see everyone from Morning Musume OG and Morning Musume appear on “24 Jikan TV” on the TV in the bus

A~lright
I’ll do my best and ride a bicycle uphill

I’m o~ff

Blog update: “BBQ(*’-‘)”

Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 8/25 blog update, titled “BBQ(*’-‘)“:

Good morning
It’s Maimi

I was at the ocean all day yesterday for a photoshoot

The weather was wonderful… Yaji-san was impressed(T_T)

Though the scorching sun was beating down on me,

the breeze felt really, really cool,

so it was the best weather for a photoshoot

During that shoot, I found this

(1)

Naturally, Okai-san popped into my head

It was funny, so I took a picture…

Thanks to the nice weather, the photoshoot finished smoothly,

and when it came time to eat dinner,

I was asked “Maimi-chan, going out to eat or having a barbeque here, which do you prefer“…

Of course,

I chose to have a barbeque

Because without a chance like this, I don’t usually get to barbeque

We went shopping at a nearby supermarket,

and then, barbeque

(2)

Eating outside feels really nice

In addition, time flew by as I ate while having fun talking to the staff

It felt like I was enjoying summer to its fullest, and I was able to make one more summer memory~ヽ(´ｖ｀)ノ

Speaking of which, it’s the last stretch of summer vacation for students, isn’t it(・o・)

Please make a lot of wonderful summer memories, everyone

p.s.

Today is Berryz Koubou’s Natsuyaki Miyabi-chan’s birthday

Miya is finally 20-years-old

One after another, all of the members of Berryz Koubou are turning 20(゜o゜)

Today Buono!’s concerts start

I hope there is a lot of celebrating, and that she has a wonderful birthday

Miya, happy birthday

I hope the 20-year-old Miya finds a lot of happiness…

Here’s a picture when I ate together with Miya

(3)

Well then, please have a wonderful day everyone

Until tomorrow’s update~

Blog update: “Chocolate-covered raisins( ´艸｀)”

Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 8/24 blog update, titled “Chocolate-covered raisins( ´艸｀)“:

Good morning
It’s Maimi

This is sudden,
but has everyone heard of chocolate-covered raisins

Nacky asked me earlier
“Do you want some(・∀・)”,

but I thought “(Raisins and chocolate… Hmmm…(゜-゜)…)”,
and responded “No thanks“

But a little while later, I couldn’t help but become hungry…
“I’m sorry I’d like one after all” I said, and Nacky gave me some chocolate-covered raisins in the end

The moment I ate one,
the shock of “What the(゜ロ゜ノ)ノ It’s delicious~” overcame me

“Right~(^-^) These are really delicious”

Nacky said…

I’ve loved chocolate-covered raisins since then

Each individual one is tiny,
so being able to eat them one-by-one is nice

There were times when I couldn’t eat raisins or chocolate…

Recently, I’ve gone beyond just being able to eat things I disliked as a child, and now I love them…(lol)

Things like aojiso dressing,
royal milk tea,
tapioca,
cheese…

If I eat them too much, I’ll start to dislike them again…

But that seems unlikely right now

I’m overcoming my dislikes…
Yeah… It’s a good thing, it’s a good thing(lol)

And then, I’m in a rea~lly wonderful place right now

(2)

It feels like time is flowing slowly…

The breeze is blowing,
the I can hear the sound of cicadas and wind chimes…

Countless times I’ve thought

“Yajima is happy right now~ヽ(´ー｀)ノ“

The fish swimming around in the goldfish bowl is “Pii-chans”

(3)

When I pointed the camera at him, he turned away…(´・ω・｀)

Well, Yaji will continue to have fun

I hope everyone has a wonderful day…

Blog update: “Finally!!o(^o^)o”

Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 8/23 blog update, titled “Finallyo(^o^)o“:

Good morning
It’s Maimi

Yesterday too, we had practice for the play starting on September 22nd,

“CAT’SEYE”

Wha, wha, what
We finally went through the entire play from beginning to end yesterday

We’re not doing the action scenes yet,

but we went through all the movements besides those,

and though I was worried “Will I remember my lines…?“, I tried doing it without my script as much as possible

Though there were places I became stuck,
and times when I thought “Huh… What was it…” and checked my script,

during the full rehearsal yesterday I clearly understood what lines I haven’t remembered yet,

and I was able to precisely grasp the connection between scenes and the flow of the entire play

Though it’s still not perfect,
I was surprised we were able to do a full rehearsal a month before the performances

After this, I first want to focus on the lines that I couldn’t remember clearly,

then perfect the other parts,

and then properly sort out the feelings of the character I play, “Hitomi”

I think we’ll also gradually start practicing the action scenes…

I’ve gotta do my best

It feels like each day the text printed on the script starts to take form little by little…

It’s moving(T^T)

There were also scenes I couldn’t visualize just by reading the script,

but when we started rehearsals,
I thought “Ah That’s the kind of situation this is, huh…“, and could understand those parts

Though it’s still incomplete,
for the month remaining before the performances,
everyone will combine their power and do their best so that everyone who sees the play will think “This is something that’ll stay in my heart…“

Those have the time, please be absolutely sure to come and see it

Well then I hope today becomes another wonderful day…

p.s.
Today’s picture were taken after the final performance of the Hello! Project concerts

(1)
“Search for Yaji”

(2)
℃-ute assembled

Blog update: “Umizaru( つд｀)”

Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 8/22 blog update, titled “Umizaru( つд｀)“:

Good morning
It’s Maimi

The performances of the play “CAT’SEYE” are already only one month away

Certainly,
one month from now my heart will be pounding while I say

“It’s finally starting~“

The other day,
after practice for “CAT’SEYE” was over,

I went with Hagi-chan to see the movie
“BRAVE HEARTS Umizaru”

Before it opened,
we promised “Let’s see it together“

My mom, who saw it earlier, told me
“It was really good”

so I couldn’t help but want to see it quickly

“Umizaru”… It was rea~~~lly good

I might spoil a little bit of the movie, but I will write down my thoughts

During the screening, I was scared, I was in suspense…

Countless times I yelled “Hang in there Hang in the~re” in my heart

Probably… Hagi-chan was the same way…

When we got to the scene where the tension reached it’s max, we squeezed each other’s hands…

I felt there were a variety of messages included in this movie

When a person gives up, that’s really where it ends…

If someone says “I gave it all I’ve got, but it was no good…”,

they will think that’s their limit,

but that’s not the truth.

“I gave it all I’ve got, but I still won’t give up”

When, with that spirit, the hero Senzaki saved a life that everyone else had given up on,

I really got chills

When everyone gave up thinking “They can’t be saved”,

that person was thinking “I will live”, and frantically struggled by themself on the bottom of the sea.

If no one comes to save that person, their efforts become futile…

That probably happens a lot in this world.

If people’s judgment and feelings were different, things would end up differently…

And then,
I was also moved by the scene where everyone came together to save a lot of lives

Though there were a lot of people, everyone acted frantically,

thinking only “I want to save everyone in front of me“.

The idea of “Though each person’s individual power is small, if everyone’s true feelings become one, the impossible becomes possible…” gave me goose bumps

After the movie ended, my heart became warm…

I was moved all the way up to the end credits…

I’m really glad I went to see it…

Well then,
here are some pictures with Hagi-chan, who I shared the emotion of “Umizaru” with…

(1)(2)

Alright~
Well then, I’ll head out fired-up today~

Everyone, please do your best today

(3)

Until tomorrow~

Blog update: “Feelings of Guilt(´・ω・｀)”

Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 8/21 blog update, titled “Feelings of Guilt(´・ω・｀)“:

Good evening
It’s Maimi

I’m sorry I’ve kept updating late at night recently

Yesterday,
I had interviews for “Girls News Hello! Project” #7,
(1)

and TV Saitama’s “HOT WAVE”
(2)

On “Girls News Hello! Project”, I answered the questions that Monica Mitchell-san asked me,

and we talked a bout a lo~t of things

Time flew by

And then, I appeared with Chisato on “HOT WAVE”,

(3)

We talked about the two of us,

and of course,
our new single coming out on September 5th,
“Aitai Aitai Aitai na”,
and its coupling tracks,
“Kanashiki Heaven”
and “Saikou Music”

Starting today, the coupling tracks can also be downloaded from Reco-Choku,

and has everyone already checked them out

When I first heard the intro for “Kanashiki Heaven”,

something clicked,
and I thought “Whoa I love this song“

Airi and Chisato harmonize together for the whole song, and it’s a really fresh challenge for ℃-ute

The dance is also going to be really cool,

so I’m really looking forward to the day we can perform it on stage now

And then, the other coupling track,
“Saikou Music” is a bright and cheerful song that harkens back to ℃-ute’s beginnings

It’s the exact opposite of “Kanashiki Heaven”

It’s a song that’ll get you excited, so please be sure to check it out

Changing the subject,
when I was walking with our manager today,

I spotted kittens playing around in the grass

My chest tightened(〃～〃)

When I tried approaching,
there were four of them, and it looked like they were playing together

The kittens who noticed me became surprised like

“Whoa Someone’s here“, and ran off into the shrubbery…

Only the kitten who I was directly behind didn’t notice my presence…

Maybe because of the bonds of their friendship,
the other kittens stopped running away,
as if to say “We gotta save him“,

and it looked like the other kittens were frantically trying to warn him

“Hey… Behind you Behind you“…

But still, the kitten didn’t notice me.

“What’s the matter, guys(・∀・) Let’s hurry up and play!!”

“Forget about that There’s someone behind you”

…I felt like I could hear that conversation…

I had already crouched down at a place where I could reach out and touch him,

and I thought “He’s cute He’s cute” and I really wanted to hold him…

Because of their love for their friend, they stopped running and tried to warn him even though they were scared…

I started to feel like a real jerk(=_=;)

Though I was only a few centimeters away from touching him, I started to feel guilty and gave up

This wasn’t what I had planned, was it…(´・ω・｀)
I was slow to understand…(T^T)

“What(・∀・) What(・∀・) You said there’s something behind me~(・∀・)”

the kitty said before turning his head,

and “((((゜ロ゜;))))
Eeeeeeeeek”

he cried as he leapt up and ran off into the shrubbery with the other kittens…(´^｀)

Sigh…(/_・、)

Though, the kittens poking their heads out of the shrubbery to see if I was still there was cute, cute…

In the end, they had made Yaji feel happy…(*´∀｀)

The four of them will always be close friends and live strong lives…

Well
Good work today

Let’s have a wonderful day tomorrow too

Good night…