Maimi Sightings for November 30th

Fellow ℃-ute member Hagiwara Mai shared this 2-shot with Maimi in her update on the official ℃-ute blog yesterday. Mai wrote that it was her first time seeing Maimi in awhile, but Maimi mistakenly thought they hadn’t met since the play “CAT’S EYE”, when in reality Mai had met Maimi when she went to see “Sugar Spot”.

Speaking of “Sugar Spot”, in an update on his blog, writer/director Shioda Taizo uploaded this shot of Maimi with Tokunaga Chinami and the 2 Hello! Project trainees appearing in the play.

“Sugar Spot” co-star Higo Akane attached this 3-shot with Maimi and Chinami in an update on her blog.

The blog for “Ahoyanen! Sukiyanen!“, the program that Maimi and Mai appeared on earlier, uploaded these shots featuring both of the girls.

The Ogaki Shoten blog shared this picture of Maimi from her handshake event at the bookstore earlier.

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

Blog update: “Kansai life has started, started~ヽ( ´ー｀)ノ”

Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 11/30 blog update, titled “Kansai life has started, started~ヽ( ´ー｀)ノ“:

Good afternoon
It’s Maimi

Yesterday began Yaji’s 4-day Kansai life

On the first day yesterday,

I appeared with Hagi-chan on a live broadcast of NHK’s “Ahoyanen! Sukiyanen!” in Osaka

(1)

We introduced embarassing incidents(*´д｀*)

We practiced confessing our love(><)…

There were a lot of corners that made me feel embarassed(〃～〃)
But it was really fun, so it was over in the blink of an eye

Everyone who came to the studio
Everyone who watched the program
Everyone who cheered for us

Thank you very much

And then, afterwards, I went to Kyoto for the release commemoration handshake event for the photobook “Hatachi”

It’s my first time having a handshake event in Kyoto~(T^T)
I was so happy

Like… I felt so at the handshake event the day before yesterday too,

but there were really a lot of people who said things like

“I just became a fan recently”

and

“It’s our first time meeting“…(つд｀)

Team ℃-ute is growing…

I’m so happy…

I wonder if it’s because I don’t ever get the chance to go to Kyoto…

I want to go to a variety of places and meet the fans that I don’t usually get a chance to meet more and more…

I felt again

I was able to talk to everyone at a leisurely pace, so it was rea~lly fun

Everyone’s smiles… They really gave me spirit~

Thank you very much

The photobook staff gave me treats like this

(2)

Chestnut jelly cake… It was really, really delicious

I love chestnut
Thanks for the treat~

My manager and I had dinner after the handshake event

Even just walking on Kyoto’s streets made me feel happy

It felt like my heart was dancing the entire time

The lit-up red leaves were also extremely pretty

(3)

Kyoto food is also the best

When we were leaving the restaurant, the store clerks gave my manager and I heat patches

“It’s cold outside” they said…

How considerate……

I headed back while filled with warmth

I’m grateful to the store clerk

And then, I have an announcement

A digest of my 7th DVD “Chelsie”, which comes out December 19th, was uploaded to the ℃-ute channel on YouTube

Has everyone seen it
Those saying “Not yet“, please be sure to check it out

For both the photobooks and DVDs, the staff have decided on the theme each time

I always hope that I can follow along the theme while filming,

and for the DVD this time, I wore make-up and outfits like I had never worn before, so it was a real mature-feeling filming,

and the staff told me
“It’s become something where everyone can see a new Yajima Maimi“

I was really happy that that was the case when I watched the finished DVD, and that I was able to challenge something new again

I want to continue challenging a variety of things

I’m proud of it, so I want everyone to be sure to see it

…That said, I put a l~ot of feeling into my past DVDs, so I’m proud of them too

As for today…
There’s a lot I want to write about…(〃▽〃)

But since this update has become long, I’ll write about it tomorrow~

Later~

Blog update: “Birth(*^^*)”

Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 11/29 blog update, titled “Birth(*^^*)“:

Good morning
It’s Maimi

There was a release commemoration handshake event yesterday for my solo photobook “Hatachi”

A lot of people came after work and school despite being busy

I’m grateful

Everyone’s words gave me a lot of power and spirit

It was cold and so were a lot of people’s hands, so I hope everyone stays warm and doesn’t get sick…(´・ω・｀)

(1)

I received a bouquet

from Bunkyodo Shoten Shibuya

I’m so happy
I immediately displayed them in my home

Speaking of which, before the handshake event yesterday, I ran into one of my high school friends in the city

Though we were always together in high school, we were never able to meet after I switched schools

She noticed me ahead of her
I was glad she recognized me even though it’s been about 5 years…

I wonder if it’s because I haven’t changed at all

After that, we e-mailed each other for awhile
I started wanting to meet her again

Above all, I’m glad she seemed to be doing well

And then, it’s belated, but I learned Nakazawa Yuuko-san gave birth yesterday

I read Nakazawa-san’s blog,

and it was overflowing with her love and joy for her child,

so I became emotional

It’s wonderful

The baby’s hands…
Though they were still small, the baby will probably grow big in the blink of an eye…

I want to meet them soon

From here they’ll probably meet a lo~t of people, and learn a lot of the world they don’t know of yet…

Nakazawa-san, congratulations on your child

No~w then
Today Mai-chan and I will appear on the live broadcast of NHK’s “Ahoyanen! Sukiyanen!” in Osaka

Afterwards, I’ll have a release commemoration handshake event for the photobook “Hatachi” in Kyoto

I~ ca~n’t wa~it(〃▽〃)

I hope we all have a wonderful day

P.S.
Today is the release date of “Shuukan Young Jump”,

which all of ℃-ute appears in

(2)

We wear 3 outfits in it, and it was a really fun photoshoot

Please be sure to check it out

In addition, I’ll attach a picture from “Girls!”,
which is on sale now

(3)

Mano Erina-chan and myself appear on the cover and in the feature article, so those who haven’t chekced it out yet, please be sure to do so

“Chelsie” digest

A digest for Maimi’s upcoming solo DVD “Chelsie” has been uploaded to the official ℃-ute channel on Youtube. The digest features several of the outfits Maimi will appear in in the DVD, which will be released on December 19th.

Maimi Sightings for November 28th

“Sugar Spot” writer/director Shioda Taizo shared this 2-shot of Maimi and Tokunaga Chinami in an update on his official blog.

Fellow cast member Ishizawa Yoji uploaded this 3-shot featuring Maimi in an update on the “Sugar Spot” blog.

The “UTB” Twitter tweeted this picture from Maimi at today’s release commemoration handshake event for “Hatachi”, and quoted Maimi as saying, “Everyone’s hands were cold… but their warm feelings were transmitted!”

Blog update: “Tokyo closing day!!( ´ω｀)”

Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 11/28 blog update, titled “Tokyo closing day( ´ω｀)“:

Good evening
It’s Maimi

It’s really, really cold today, isn’t it~

My fingertips are ice-cold…

Yesterday was the Tokyo closing day of the play “Sugar Spot”

We had 10 performances up to this point

The time has passed in the blink of an eye

Earlier in the dressing room, my co-star Berryz Koubou’s Tokunaga Chinami-chan and I had the conversation

“Doesn’t the time we heard ‘The two of you will be in a play together‘ feel nostalgic“

Each day really passed steadily

When I realize it, the things that I thought were something in the future are ending…

Ah~
It feels like time is going by faster since I turned 20

Next are the Osaka performances

The venue and size of the stage will change, so we will have the dress rehearsal know as “generalprobe” before the performance

Although
Since we want as many people as possible to see it, the generalprobe in Osaka will be open to the public

Therefore, those that have the time, please be sure to come and watch

I’ll do my best at the Osaka performances too~

Actually,
today is the birthday of my co-star Ikeda Minoru-san

Ikeda-san, happy birthday

Everyone celebrated after the performance yesterday

(1)

Ikeda-san is always giving me a lot of advice like “Why don’t you try it like this“

I’m always thinking “Oh yeah(゜o゜) It’d be better if I did it like that“, and I really learn a lot

Please continue to take care of me in the Osaka performances

And please have a wonderful year

Now then

From here,

I have the release commemoration handshake event

at Bunkyodo Shoten Shibuya

for the photobook that came out yesterday,

“Hatachi”(^-^)人(^-^)

I will shake hands with everyone with my feelings of gratitude

Well then, until tomorrow

Bonus pictures

(2)
A picture I took with Berryz Koubou’s Sudou Maasa-chan when she came to see “Sugar Spot”

She’s told me a lot of her thoughts through e-mail too

(3)
A picture taken during the photoshoot for “CanCam”,
which is on sale now

Those who still haven’t seen it yet, please be sure to check it out

Maimi Sightings for November 27th

As mentioned in Maimi’s update, Berryz Koubou’s Natsuyaki Miyabi went and saw “Sugar Spot” yesterday, and wrote about it in an update today on her official blog, which included this shot of Maimi.

Berryz Koubou’s captain Shimizu Saki went as well, and shared this 2-shot with “Mii-tan” in an update on her official blog. Later, she posted an entry about her interview for “TopYell” with Maimi and S/mileage’s Wada Ayaka, and then shared a pair of 3-shots.

The “UTB” Twitter tweeted this shot of Maimi and reminded everyone of the release events for “Hatachi”.

The Gatas Brilhantes H.P. Facebook page uploaded this picture of the team line-up, featuring number 17 Maimi.

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

Blog update: “Photobook release”

Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 11/27 blog update, titled “Photobook release“:

Good afternoon
It’s Maimi

We had another performance of the play “Sugar Spot” yesterday

And Berryz Koubou’s
Shimizu Saki-chan
Sudou Maasa-chan
and Natsuyaki Miyabi-chan

came and watched
(1)

I was really glad everyone found the time to come~

A lot of staff who I usually work with came too

Even though yesterday was a weekday, it was a full house

I’m grateful…(つд｀) Really…

And then, today is the closing day of the Tokyo performances

There’s still performances in Osaka on December 1st and 2nd,

but time has flown by to this point~

I’ll do my best so that I don’t have any regrets about the last “Sugar Spot” in Tokyo

And then, I just had a photoshoot and interview
with Saki
and S/mileage’s Wada Ayaka-chan

for the magazine “TOPYELL”

(2)

It was a talk with each group’s captain and leaders

“Yaji has gotta be grateful to the other ℃-ute members”

…I again felt during the interview

It goes on sale in January, so it’s still a ways off, but everyone please be sure to check it out

In addition, today
Finally, my solo photobook “Hatachi” goes on sale~ヽ(´ー｀)ノ

(3)

It’s my first photobook since turning 20

I was given a “theme” this time, and they took pictures of me as I was acting out a character

Until now, I’ve always just been myself at the time in my photobooks,

so this book was a new challenge for me

The day we filmed at the beach, I had a barbeque with the photobook staff at night

There was reminiscent talk like

“At the time of your first photobook when you were 15, you flew to Okinawa after your middle school graduation, so your eyes were still puffy“,

and since they’ve known me since I was younger, the conversation turned to

“I can’t believe that that Maimi-chan has turned 20~“…

It was a really fun time

I’m grateful that I can release a photobook even after turning 20

I hope a lot of people see this moment in my 20th year

There are release commemoration handshake events planned for the photobook “Hatachi”

Tomorrow at 7:00PM~
Bunkyodo Shoten Shibuya

By the way, phone reservations for this end today at 8:00PM

11/29
7:30PM~
Ogaki Shoten Ion Mall KYOTO

11/30
7:00PM~
Junkudo Shoten Sennichimae

Please check each store’s home page for full details

I’m waiting for a lot of people to participate

Well then, the closing day of “Sugar Spot” in Tokyo

I’m o~ff( ´∀`)/~~

“Zomvideo” trailer

A trailer for Maimi and fellow ℃-ute member Nakajima Saki’s long-delayed zombie horror/comedy “Zomvideo” has been uploaded to YouTube. The trailer, which viewers should be forewarned is EXTREMELY graphic, shows Maimi’s character “Aiko” learning how to dispatch zombies through means such as encyclopedias and scissors from a video she finds at the onset of a zombie apocalypse. The movie will begin showing on December 29th.

Maimi Sightings for November 26th

Berryz Koubou’s Sudou Maasa went to see the play “Sugar Spot” and shared her thoughts along with this 2-shot with Maimi in an update on her official blog.

“Sugar Spot” writer/director Shioda Taizo continued the daily posts on his official blog about the play, and uploaded this pictures featuring Maimi and those familiar girls who have come to see it.

The “UTB” Twitter tweeted this shot of Maimi and reminded everyone of the events for her photobook “Hatachi”, which goes on sale tomorrow.

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

Blog update: “Living thingヾ( ´ω｀＝´ω｀) ノ”

Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 11/26 blog update, titled “Living thingヾ( ´ω｀＝´ω｀) ノ“:

Good morning
It’s Maimi

I read the comments on yesterday’s update

There were a lot of people concerned about my health because my schedule was play, concert, play for 3 days ending yesterday(*´д｀*)

Thank you very much

But Yajima is healthy as always

In addition, today there’s only an evening performance of the play, and I don’t have any other jobs before that,

so right now I’m relaxing at home surrounded by my dogs

Now then,
coming to the 2nd performance of the play “Sugar Spot” was Mitsui Aika-chan

(1)

Berryz Koubou’s Sugaya Risako-chan came and saw the 3rd performance

(2)

They truly are wonderful friends~(T^T)

Aika also came to see our concert the day before yesterday,

and I’m always, always grateful

It seems Risako rushed over after her event was finished,

and before it started she came to the dressing room and excitedly said

“Ah~ I’ve really been looking forward to this(‘∇’)”

I was really happy that she was anticipating it and came to watched°・(ノД`)・°・

Those 2 e-mailed me after the performance, giving me their impressions and cheering me on “Do you best from here on too“…

I started to really overflow with powerq(^-^q)

Thanks, both of you

And then, I’ll attach a picture of Airi too, since even though she came to the play the day before yesterday, I couldn’t attach her picture on the blog then

(3)

Airi and I are e-mailing each other right now…
She’s currently in a place I love, Kyoto,

but she’s telling me “It’s raining in Kyoto~”

…(lol)

Even though you tell me that~┓(￣∇￣;)┏ There’s nothing I can do~(°∇°;)

I got off-topic

A lot of people came to all 3 performances of “Sugar Spot” yesterday, so I was really happy

Thank you very much

As expected, plays are living things

At the last scene of the third performance yesterday… my throat grumbled loudly during an important part

It’s a quiet scene, so it really echoed across the theater

After the performance, my dance instructor Mitsubachi Maki-sensei, who came to watch and who I’m always working with, teased me about it f(^^;

I was fine with it when it happened, but I immediately became embarassed when it was pointed out~

There’s times when Aoba’s (←my role) throat does it too(￣ー￣;)

Well, there were a lot of things that happened yesterday as a result of it being a living thing,

and for that reason, I can carry a good sense of nervousness each time~ I feel…

There was an after talk show yesterday too

I can’t see the audience at all during the play, so I’m able to see

“Ah This many people came today too” during the curtain call and after talk

My nervousness up until then instantly goes away, and I start to feel like “Ah~“(lol)

We were able to chat at our leisure, so the after talk show was fun too

Including the Osaka performances, there’s only 5 performances remaining

I won’t have the chance to become Aoba anymore after the play ends, so I’ll enjoy it now with all of my strength

I’ll do my best today too

Well then, I want to relax at my house a little longer

Later~

p.s.

Finally tomorrow

My solo photobook “Hatachi” comes out

Everyone, please be sure to check out my first photobook since turning 20

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

I intended to send this this morning, but it didn’t send

It’s already “Good afternoon time

I relaxed a lot
I’ll head out cheerfully today too

Maimi Sightings for November 25th

Fellow ℃-ute member Okai Chisato uploaded these shots from backstage at ℃-ute’s tour in her update today on the official ℃-ute blog.

Hello! Project soloist Mitsui Aika went and saw “Sugar Spot” today and shared these two 3-shots with the play’s stars in an update on her official blog. Aika wrote that she loved Maimi’s character “Aoba” and that she was reminded of the play “Ran”.

The Kabukimon blog uploaded this picture of Maimi with the captain “Going to greet everyone in the dressing room… Huh!? Sorry to interrupt your enjoyment of the treat… Yajima-san.”

“Sugar Spot” co-star Miyahara Shogo-san posted this 2-shot of Maimi and Chinami in an update on his official blog.

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

Blog update: “☆Tour opening☆ヾ(^ ▽^)ノ”

Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 11/25 blog update, titled “☆Tour opening☆ヾ(^ ▽^)ノ“:

Good evening
It’s Maimi

℃-ute’s winter tour has finally started

(1)

I laughed a lot, I moved a lot, I sweat a lot…

The entire day was like a dream

Everyone who participated, everyone who cheered for us, thank you very much

There were no plans to have this tour originally, but it came to be because our previous tours were SOLD OUT and standing-room-only tickets were sold(つд｀)

It’s truly thanks to everyone

Therefore, my desire to repay everyone’s kindness and put my feelings of gratitude towards them into it and make it a great tour are really strong

Everyone has been considerably fired up since the rehearsalq(^-^q)

I was nervous and fidgety before the performance, but when I stood on stage it was too fun, too fun, too fun (lol)

I hope it was a similar time for everyone who participated too~

The tour is still ongoing, so I’ll keep the full details under wraps,

but this time Hello! Project trainees Takagi Sayuki-chan and Ogawa Rena-chan also appear

(2)

When the 7 of us made a circle before the start of the concert, Ogawa-chan (pictured right) said “I’m happy~(>_<)" and started crying…(T^T)

On the contrary, we were happy…(lol)

When ℃-ute was rehearsing, Takagi-chan (pictured left) would even practice the dances for the songs she wasn’t appearing in off to the side…

“She’s a real hard worker and has strength~” I thought

It’s like she performed the entire concert with ℃-ute(゜o゜)

Ah~, they remind me again of when we were beginners…

And then, I’ve already written about it in the tour blog on the cellphone site “Pokemo-.”,

but starting in the Nagoya performances,
we’ll perform “Juliet Juliet” for the first time

℃-ute was given this song 4 years ago

We had recorded it and done the dance choreography,

but suddenly the lyrics, title, and dance of “Juliet Juliet” were changed,

and it was released as “Namida no Iro”

“Juliet Juliet” has really wonderful lyrics though,

and at that time all of ℃-ute would say
“I love these lyrics~“

Yeah
I love both “Namida no Iro” and “Juliet Juliet”…

Tsunku♂-san decided we’d perform it when he came and saw the generalprobe (the final rehearsal in the studio), and I’m sorry we weren’t ready to perform it in time for the Tokyo performances

We didn’t think the day would ever come when we’d perform “Juliet Juliet”, so we were also surprised,

but I started to feel nostalgic and happy

From here we’ll memorize the dance from back then, so I’ll do my best to make it a good debut performance

Well then, lastly, a picture I took with Mitsui Aika-chan, who came to see the ℃-ute concert yesterday, after the performance…

(3)

I’m drenched in sweat

She gaves us fruits, so I was really happy~

Thanks, Aika

In addition, a lot of media came yesterday, and I was astonished by their number

I was really happy that a lot of people found time in their busy schedules to come and see ℃-ute’s concert

℃-ute will run swiftly until the very end of the tour with this momentum

Those who have time, please be sure to come see ℃-ute’s concert

And then,
of the Tokyo performances for the play “Sugar Spot”, which is being held at Shinjuku Kinokuniya Hall,

only 2 remain tomorrow and the day after tomorrow

After that though, there will be 3 performances on December 1st and 2nd at Osaka’s Ion Keshouhin Theater BRAVA!

Those who have the time, please be sure to come and see this also

Today, those two girls came and watched~

I was happy…

I’ll write about that in tomorrow’s update

Well, until then~

Good night(^з^)/

Maimi Sightings for November 24th

Fellow ℃-ute member Suzuki Airi uploaded this 2-shot with Maimi in an update on the official ℃-ute blog.

Former Morning Musume member and current soloist Mitsui Aika went and saw ℃-ute’s concert today, and shared these 2-shot collages on her official blog. In addition, Aika wrote that she finds Maimi’s mere existence soothing.

“Sugar Spot” writer/director Shioda Taizo updated his official blog for the 3rd day of the play, attaching a couple of shots featuring Maimi and the visiting Berikyuu members.

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

Blog update: “Three performances!!(^-^)v”

Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 11/24 update on the “Sugar Spot” blog, titled “Three performances!!(^-^)v“:

Good evening★
It’s Yajima Maimi, who plays Yamazaki Aoba♪

The date’s changed, so now it’s Saturday(°∇°;)

We had three performances yesterday~o(^o^)o

I’m happy I could become Aoba 3 times in 1 day♪(^-^)

Everyone is together backstage a lot too, so I notice our friendship gradually becoming stronger!!(〃▽〃)

Even though I’m co-starring with Karin-chan and Nanami-chan in this play, I haven’t gotten much chance to talk to them,

but when we were giving “Good job!” high-fives after the performance… they came over smiling with their arms outstretched,

and said “Ya~y★(*^-^)ノ”…

They’re really like my cute little sisters(〃▽〃)

Today,
Berryz Koubou’s Kumai Yurina-chan,

and Nakajima Saki-chan,
Suzuki Airi-chan,
and Hagiwara Mai-chan from ℃-ute

came to see the play~(T_T)

On the opening day of the play too, I received e-mails saying “Do your best!!q(^-^q)”
from the Berryz Koubou and ℃-ute members…

Even though we’re not together, they still support me a lot(T^T)

Thanks~(/_;)

I was frozen with nervousness on the opening and second days,

but on the third day today I took on the play considerably calmer(‘∇’)

I’ll do my best to become better and better each day until the very end(^-^)

Thank you very much to everyone who came in the rain today(T^T)

Those who couldn’t come today, please be sure to come when you have the time☆ミ

A lollipop given to me by Hyogi-san~!!(^-^)v

That girl sitting next to me too…♪

Even Haru appears~(〃▽〃)

Chinami started to take an eye exam with the lollipop…(lol)