is a Japanese singer and actress. She was a member and the leader of Cute, a girl idol group within Hello! Project.
Career 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 debuted 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 became the sub-captain of Little Gatas and the Hello! Project Kids futsal team.
Yajima also co-hosted 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. Yajima and Fukuda Kanon appeared in the movie Fuyu no Kaidan (Winter Ghost Story), released in Japan on May 23, 2009.
Cute disbanded following their final concert at Saitama Super Arena on June 12, 2017. Yajima had announced earlier, via the group's blog, that she planned to pursue an acting career.
Personal life Maimi's younger cousin, Akari Takeuchi, is a former member of ANGERME, another girl group within Hello! Project.Morning Musume Sayumi Michishige Konya mo Usa-chan Peace, June 24, 2009,
On November 8, 2022, she announced her marriage with actor Ryosuke Mikata. On March 25, 2024, she announced her first pregnancy. She gave birth to her first baby in July of the same year, and announced her second pregnancy in June 2025, and gave birth to her second baby in November 2025.
Discography
Solo DVDs No. Title Release date Chartposition Label OriconWeeklyDVDChart 1 April 29, 2009 35 Zetima – June 2009 — Wani Books (not for sale) 2 June 23, 2010 80 Zetima 3 March 27, 2011 — Up-Front Works (e-Hello! series) 4 August 29, 2011 — Up-Front Works (e-Hello! series) 5 September 29, 2011 — Up-Front Works (e-Hello! series) 6 November 11, 2011 — Up-Front Works (e-Hello! series) – January 31, 2012 — Up-Front Works (e-Hello! series) 7 Chelsie December 19, 2012 141 Zetima June 5, 2013 — Up-Front Works (e-Hello! series) Blue Wind April 9, 2014 47 Zetima
Duet singles Year Artist Title Release date Chartposition OriconWeeklySingleChart 2008 9
Bibliography
Photobooks No. Title Release date Publisher ISBN Notes 1 April 25, 2007 Wani Books 1st solo photobook 2 January 27, 2008 2nd solo photobook 3 17 April 18, 2009 3rd solo photobook 4 June 5, 2010 5 November 27, 2011 6 November 27, 2012 7 May 27, 2013
Appearances
Movies
(2009) Ōsama Game (December 17, 2011) (December 29, 2012) First Love (2019) BLACKFOX: Age of the Ninja (2019)
Straight-to-video (April 27, 2011, Geneon Universal Entertainment) as Reira (July 4, 2012) (August 3, 2012)
TV dramas Sūgaku Joshi Gakuen (January 11, 2012 – March 28, 2012) (2011)
Television (May 3, 2005) °C-ute Has Come #03 (December 2, 2006) °C-ute Has Come #04 (December 16, 2006) 58th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen (December 31, 2007) (NHK Osaka, April 21, 2009) (June 26, 2009) — a talk show featuring Hello! Project members
Radio Cutie Party (November 4, 2006 – ongoing) (July 4, 2008 – ongoing, Fridays at 10 pm, FM Port)
Internet Hello! ga Ippai #01 (November 10, 2006) Hello! ga Ippai #02 (November 24, 2006) Hello! Pro Hour #02 (March 17, 2006) (2011) Hagiwara Mai Desu ga... Nani ka? (2012)
Theater Cat's Eye (2012) as Hitomi Kisugi Hatagumi Vol.3 "Ran" (2010) as Ran Hatagumi Vol.4 "Ran―2011New version!!" (2011) as Ran Hatagumi Vol.5 "Taklamakan" (2013) as Kei
References
External links Cute official blog Maimi Yajima's official UStream channel °C-ute: Official Hello! Project profile FM Port Maimi Yajima Profile