Yajima Maimi

Also known as :  Maimii, Yassui
Born                 :  February 7, 1992
Origin               :  Saitama, Japan
Genres             :  J-pop
Occupations     :  Singer, actress

Personal Life

Maimi Yajima 矢島 舞美 Yajima Maimi?, born February 7, 1992 in Saitama, Japan is a member and the leader of Cute, a J-pop group within Hello! Project. Her younger cousin, Akari Takeuchi, is also a member of Hello! Project, currently a member of "S/mileage". She has been nicknamed "Rain Girl" by fans and her fellow Cute members, who say that she is the one that causes it to rain so often on important days, such as at concerts and events the group attends. Yajima first joined Hello! Project in 2002 as one of the fifteen children chosen from the Hello! Project Kids auditions after performing "Momoiro Kataomoi" by Aya Matsuura. She made her debut the same year in the movie Koinu Dan no Monogatari, taking on one of the main roles as an antagonist. The following year she joined the first of the kids' groups, ZYX, which released two singles.

In 2004 Berryz Kobo was formed, with the intention of rotating the girls throughout the unit. Yajima did not make the original pick, and the idea was eventually dropped. The remaining girls eventually ended up forming Cute in 2005. Despite not being the oldest, Yajima still became the group's leader, after Erika Umeda turned down the role. The group did not make its official debut until late in 2006, with their first official single released in February 2007.

Aside from leading Cute, Yajima is also the sub-captain of Little Gatas, the Hello! Project Kids futsal team. She is also considered to be one of the fastest runners in all of Hello! Project, often coming first in the running events at the annual sports festivals and listing running as one of her hobbies. Yajima also currently co-hosts Cute's weekly radio program, Cutie Party. She took over the role when Megumi Murakami left the group.  In 2008, Yajima was selected to be a member of Hello Project's new unit High-King.