Monthly Archives: December 2011
℃-ute news for 12/31: New Year’s video
■ The members of ℃-ute appear in a new video on the official ℃-ute YouTube channel where they wish everyone a happy new year, and talk a little bit about the upcoming year, which will be the 10th anniversary of them joining Hello! Project through the Kids audition.
Maimi Sightings for 12/31
Hello! Project soloist Mano Erina uploaded a 3-shot of herself with Maimi and former S/mileage and H!P member Maeda Yuuka in an entry on her official blog.
In addition, Maimi’s profile picture on the website for Gatas Brilhantes H.P., UpFront’s futsal team, was updated along with the rest of the site.
Full translations of the other members’ entries can be found at blog!project.
Blog update: “Thank you”
Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 12/31 blog update, titled “Thank you“:
Good evening
It’s MaimiIt’s New Year’s Eve
The weather was really nice today
Good weather for the end of the year… It made me happyActually, today I went to see S/mileage’s event with Mano Erina-chan
I also met Morning Musume’s Fukumura Mizuki-chan at the venue
(
1)
Today Maeda Yuuka-chan will graduate from Hello! Project.
Today was her final performance.
Yuuka has been active in Hello! Project for about 7 years,
and finally at the end of today, the curtains will close on Yuuka’s life in show business…
At the event, they showed a video from her activities as an Egg up until now.
There were also parts where she overlapped with ℃-ute,
and I couldn’t stop crying…In addition, there was also an indies song medley…
It brought back various memories of myself with Yuuka.
Though I think there were a lot of happy things and difficult things for her, Yuuka said
“Because all of the fans, I could do my best
“
Though she’s graduating, surely all of the fans will continue to cheer for her,
and because she’s carrying that support,
Yuuka has gotta be happyI hope that the Yuuka who loves her family will make a lot of time with them,
and always laugh…“Let’s go and eat together someday
” we promised, and surely we can meet again
Yuuka, thanks for everything
Absolutely, absolutely be happy
Last is a picture with Yuuka
(2)
Well, in 3 hours it’ll be the new year
There were sad incidents in 2011, and it became a year where I again thought about the preciousness of life.
Naturally, more than ever, I found happiness and value in trivial things,
and so that I wouldn’t have any regrets everyday,
the feeling of “I want to have a wonderful day today too” grew inside me.
Each and every day this year, a lot of people supported me
The other members, all of the fans, the staff, family, friends…
I have a lot of gratitude for everyone who has supported me
Everyone always says “Thank you
“, but those are my words
Like Yuuka also said, the cheering power from everyone is amazing
It gives me the power to work hard,
it makes me feel happy,…hmm… I can’t convey this feeling of gratitude in words
I will reciprocate these feelings of gratitude to everyone with full-power
And then, we had the chance to work with various groups the second half of this year
I talked about it with everyone in ℃-ute too,
but because they were experiences like we don’t normally have, new discoveries were made, and I thought “I won’t lose“,
and though there were a lot of things I worried about, I think there were a lot of things I could do because I worried
In 2012 also, I will worry a lot and grow a lot
Please continue to support ℃-ute and Yajima Maimi next year too
Because of everyone who cheered for us in 2011, I was really happy
Thank you so very much
Let’s have a wonderful year together next year too
(
3)
Maimi Sightings for 12/30
Berryz Koubou’s captain Shimizu Saki finished her series of posts showcasing Berikyuu members with a post about Maimi on her official blog. Captain shared a large 2-shot of the two together, and wrote how she respects Maimi as a leader and hard-worker.
Fellow ℃-ute member Suzuki Airi shared a 2-shot with Maimi in her update on the official ℃-ute blog.
Full translations of the other members’ entries can be found at blog!project.
Blog update: “Last day of work for the year”
Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 12/30 blog update, titled “Last day of work for the year“:
Good evening
It’s MaimiYesterday I walked around the city, and was surprised that there were less people than usual
Though the atmosphere of the streets feels busy at the end of the year, it completely changes to a laid-back atmosphere when the New Year’s holiday starts
Ah
As expected, I love this end-of-the-year feeling
Everyone, well done on school and work this year
…but, there’s probably still people who haven’t finished their work for the year yet
I’m cheering for your hard workActually, we finished our work for the year with a filming today
“Happy New Year~
” we said and seperated
Everyone, what are you doing now
(*^^*)
Are you able to relax at homeAh~ ah~ 2012, be a wonderful year
(^-^)♪
For some reason, it feels like a change of attitude and a strange excitement,
and during New Year’s holiday, there are a lot of things I want to do and things I must do
I want to relax at home with my family
When I returned home yesterday, my pet dog Cologne was sleeping on the sofa with my dad
She slept in the exact same position as my dad(^-^)
Even how she sleeps looks like her owner…
She’s a poodle, and it looks like she was given a shampoo, so she was clean and fluffier than usual
Yeah
My house calms me down and soothes me
Everyone, please have a wonderful New Year’s holiday too
Well well, lastly, a picture I took when we went home today…
(
1)
Tomorrow is the last day of 2011
Please have a happy day
Maimi Sightings for 12/29
Fellow ℃-ute member Hagiwara Mai posted this shot of Maimi from the year-end party in her update on the official ℃-ute blog.
Full translations of the other members’ entries can be found at blog!project.
Blog update: “Big year-end party”
Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 12/29 blog update, titled “Big year-end party“:
Good evening
It’s MaimiThere are only 2 days remaining in this year
2011 is ending
Today on the USTREAM program
“Hagiwara Mai desu ga… Nani ka??”℃-ute’s big year-end party was broadcast live
(
1.2)
First, we started with a present exchange, which we couldn’t do on Christmas
I won the present from Nacky
A cute clear file and totebag
(
3)
Just now, my usual totebag became saggy, so from here on I want to use this one regularly
The clear file is cute, so it feels like a waste to use it
But she went to trouble to give it to me, so I’ll use it carefully
Thanks
Naka-san
After that,
we talked about the past year,and had a karaoke party
Everyone also ate kimchee nabe
In addition, Chisato made ankake yakisoba and pickled cucumbers,
and Airi made kara-age and spring rolls
I made creme brulee and strawberry mille crepe for dessert
I worked really, really hard last night
Though it was the first time I’ve made strawberry mille crepe
Everyone said it was delicious, so I was happyAs expected, making confections? (sweets) is fun
At the year-end party, there were a lot of members who participated in the spur of the moment
Morning Musume’s Fukumura Mizuki-chan, Ikuta Erina-chan, Sayashi Riho-chan
We had a karaoke party together
Thanks to those 3And then, Yuuka, who I haven’t been able to meet in a long time,
squeezed in during a break in her events
Though we had to split-up after about 5 minutes, I was really happy~
Yuuka
Thanks
It became a fun year-end party this year too
Thank you very much
After that was an event for the currently-showing movie “Ousama Game”
This was my last job at a public place this year
…Next time we meet or you see me, it’ll be 2012
Everyone, please stay well during the New Year’s break too
I want to send off the old year cheerfully also
Please continue to support me next year
Happy New Year~
Reminder: ℃-ute’s Big Year-End Party 2011
Broadcasting live with Ustream
This is just a reminder for everyone that in approximately two hours (1:00AM EST), ℃-ute’s Big Year-End Party 2011 will be aired live on the “Hagiwara Mai desu ga… Nani ka??” USTREAM channel. Last year’s party was also broadcast live on USTREAM, and the girls talked, ate, and sang karaoke, so expect something similar this year.
Maimi, Chinami to perform together at “HaroPuro ANNEX”
The Hello! Project official fanclub website has posted the news of another Berryz Koubou and ℃-ute collaboration, the fanclub event “HaroPuro ANNEX ~Berryz Koubou x ℃-ute = Sweet♡~”. Each day of the event features a different Berryz Koubou and ℃-ute pairing, and Maimi will appear and perform with best friend and Berryz Koubou member Tokunaga Chinami for two performances on 2/10.
Other pairings include Sudou Maasa and Okai Chisato (2/9), Kumai Yurina and Nakajima Saki (2/13), and Shimizu Saki, Sugaya Risako, and Hagiwara Mai (2/14). Buono! members Tsugunaga Momoko, Natsuyaki Miyabi, and Suzuki Airi appear to not be participating, likely because of their concert in Paris on 2/12. Full details of the event can be found here.
Blog update: “Happy birthday Yuuka”
Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 12/28 blog update, titled “Happy birthday Yuuka
“:
Good evening
It’s MaimiI’m sorry for the late update
Today is S/mileage’s Maeda Yuuka-chan’s birthday
Yuuka
We couldn’t meet recently, so I’ve felt lonelyYuuka will graduate from Hello! Project at the end of this year.
The rehearsal for next year’s Hello! Project concert has begun,
but of course, Yuuka’s appearance is missing at rehearsal.
It’s a somewhat strange feeling…
Yesterday I sat in the corner of the studio and ate with Berryz Koubou’s Tokunaga Chinami-chan,
and Chii suddenly said
“This time last year, we ate together here with Yuuka-chan…“(;_;)
That’s right, this season last year we had rehearsal for a Hello! Project concert,
and when I was eating with Chii during a break,
Yuuka came over carrying her meal,
and asked “Is it alright if I eat with you two(^-^)”,
and we talked a lot…
Yuuka really loves her family,
so she happily talked about her themSurely, up to now, her family closely supported her in happy times and difficult times…
And then, from now on too…Though I don’t know if I’ll be able to meet Yuuka, I hope that she always stays as the Yuuka who loves her family…
I’m grateful that she was born…
Even though I can’t meet her, our time spent together in Hello! Project will never fade and neeeeever change
She really soothed me lots and lots,
she washed my heart clean, and I’m glad that I met YuukaI’ll always love her
Surely, 17 will be a turning point in her life. I hope she grabs ahold of a wonderful future
Be happy
Happy 17th birthday
![]()
Nagoya “Cutest” event, date of Maimi’s next solo performance
The official Hello! Project website added two updates today regarding Maimi. The first is news of a second event for ℃-ute’s recently-released photobook “Cutest”, which will be held on 1/16 at Hoshino Shouten’s store at Kinki Nippon Tetsudou Pass’e in Nagoya, and will feature Maimi and fellow ℃-ute member Okai Chisato.
The second update is a list of those who will be performing solo songs during the “Funky-chan” concerts of the Hello! Project 2012 winter tour, and it reveals that Maimi’s solo performance will be during the evening concert on 1/7.
Blog update: “Big year-end party”
Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 12/27 blog update, titled “Year-end party“:
Good morning
It’s MaimiIt’s sudden, but today I have an announcement
We’re doing it again this year
℃-ute’s big year-end party
It will broadcast live on the 29th
on the USTREAM program
“Hagiwara Mai desu ga… Nani ka??”
at 3:00PMLast year Airi had to work as part of Buono!, so she couldn’t appear,
but this year all members will be present
I’m happy
(^-^)v
Airi is also really looking forward to itThough on that day,
there’s also an event for the currently-showing movie “Ousama Game” after the big year-end partyI’ll be careful not to eat too much…(^-^;
The 29th is the last time this year I’ll appear in front of everyone
Alright
I’ll really, really enjoy it
Definitely check it out pleaseAnd then, in the magazine “UTB” on sale now, I wear a long-sleeved kimono together with Mano Erina-chan
(
1.2) Red and white long-sleeved kimonos
Mano-chan is white, and I’m redIn addition, we had a photoshoot in adult-like dresses
The photoshoot was really fun
Please definitely check this out tooWell
Changing the subject,
today there’s a rehearsal for the Hello! Project concert that starts on 1/2Though I have a lot of unease, I have no choice but to do my best
During the break, I go over things with various members, and they really save me
I gotta do my best
Well well, today I’ll go with a fighting spirit too
(
3) Last is a picture of some beautiful Christmas lights
It’s the picture I was talking about when I wrote
“Someday, I’ll upload a picture” in an earlier update
Since I was taking it from inside a taxi, I couldn’t take it well,
but it really is beautiful…
Well then, everyone, let’s have a wonderful day today
Until tomorrow’s update
Blog update: “I love Berikyuu”
Here’s the translation for Maimi’s 12/26 blog update, titled “I love Berikyuu
“:
Good evening
It’s MaimiThe collaboration tour with Berryz Koubou ended yesterday
When I first heard that we’d have a concert tour with Berryz Koubou
I was anxious
Because for a long time I’ve thought “Berryz Koubou’s individuality is really strong, and their charm is amazing
“…
So, I talked a lot with all of the members of ℃-ute…
Berryz Koubou passed the same audition and are the same generation, so there are things that people around us will compare,
and amongst us too,
we have the feeling of “I don’t want to lose“
For this reason, I had a lot of impatience at first…
But as the rehearsals added up,
Berryz Koubou’s members taught us Berryz’s songs,
and we taught them ℃-ute’s songs,and in addition, we could say things like
“Would it be cooler if we did it like this”
that we couldn’t with just ordinary rivals,and cooperating together, our friendship became even stronger…
“This is real friendship” I reaffirmed
When I noticed it, the feeling of “I want to make this the best concert which only these 2 groups can do
” had become stronger than the others
With that feeling I challenged the tour this time,
and each venue was a full-houseI was extremely, extremely happy
I am really grateful…Honestly, before the collaboration tour began,
“Will Berryz Koubou’s fans appreciate ℃-ute”
I worriedBut, when we actually stood on stage, I felt the venue gradually became one, and I was really happy
Therefore, so that more and more people notice us, I gotta work hard
Everyone who came to the collaboration concert,
and then everyone who cheered for us even though they couldn’t come…
Thank you so very muchAnd then, and then, I’m grateful to all of the staff who supported this tour too
They prepared a surprise at yesterday’s final performance, and it was really moving
Yesterday became the last concert of the year,
I felt a lot of people’s warmth,
and it was a really happy concertBerryz Koubou has Berryz Koubou’s qualities,
and ℃-ute has ℃-ute’s qualities
If we can use the large amount of motivation we received from Berryz Koubou while staying true to ℃-ute’s qualities,
I feel that ℃-ute will be able to take another step forward without fail
Having a tour together, I discovered more of Berryz Koubou’s amazing points than ever before
Just that made me advance one step
So that ℃-ute can power-up more and more in 2012,
we will do our best
Well then, here
(
1) Since the final performance is over, I can publically show the outfits
And then, the friends I love and treasure
(2) A shot after the performance
Lastly
(3) This is a happy place
I’m really grateful to everyone
Thank you very much
p.s.
I apologize for updating late
Blog update: “Merry X’mas”
Here’s the translation for Maimi’s Christmas (12/25) blog update, titled “Merry X’mas
“:
Merry Christmas
It’s MaimiChristmas has arrived
I feel nostalgic for when I was young on Christmas Eve,
and I tried to fight my sleepiness thinking
“I won’t sleep until I meet Santa“…
“Santa won’t come if you’re not a good child
Look, if you don’t go to bed early, Santa won’t come
“…
I was often told
In the end, I fell asleep before I knew it,
and even though I didn’t have an alarm clock, I jumped out of bed around 6A.M. and cheerfully unwrapped my presents…About this time this year too, I wonder if there are children who are like me back then who are cheerfully unwrapping their presents…
I’m in a somewhat nostalgic mood…
I’m remembering various things~When my mom put me to bed,
she’d always put my open hands on both sides of the pillow,
and say “It’s so you can grab a lot of happiness…
”
and squeeze my hands
One day, when I asked
“Hey, what happens if I do this“,
“You grab a lot of happiness in these hands
” she said
I feel a lot of love
Santa doesn’t visit me anymore,but I feel a lot of gratitude for Santa, who has given me a looooot of dreams
I have a cousin who is still young, so I still feel that a lot
Surely my cousin has received a wonderful present from Santa…
Now then, changing the subject, yesterday was the fanclub event continuing from the day before,
“CutieLand 6″
During the handshake corner,
when I heard “Thank you for everything this year”
and “Have a good year next year…”
I felt 2011 is endingBut but, for sure we are more grateful to everyone, including those who couldn’t come to the event
Seeing everyone’s smiles,
receiving everyone’s warm words
(Not just in person, but including letters, blog comments, and e-mails to the radio show too)
it puts me in a sincerely happy mood
I’m grateful from the bottom of my heartIs it the effect of my mom’s charm
I’m grabbing a lot of happiness…There are a lot of things I want to tell to everyone,
but I will keep it to myself until the last update of 2011And then, on this Christmas day in Hamamatsu
is the closing day of the collaboration tour with Berryz KoubouAt last, it’s the final…
I feel too lonely…So that no regrets remain, I will burn up
My worry is…
Yeah… the weather
I wonder if snow is alright
Well
I become cheerful if I think about a white Christmas…
But… as long as the bullet train doesn’t stop
3 years earlier, when ℃-ute visited Hamamatsu on tour, the heavy rain stopped the bullet trains, and all of the fans who came from far away were stranded,
and I remember it took us 3 hours to return home by bus
Like, if I really think about it,
it also rained when we went to play at a certain amusement park in Shizuoka…In the end we didn’t play, and when we went to that amusement park again because of our regret, it also rained…
When I went to Shizuoka for the filming of the currently-showing movie “Ousama Game”, it also rained…
Incidentally, when I appeared at the filming for the Nippon TV serial drama that starts on 1/11, “Suugaku Joshi
Gakuen”, it was aaaaallways raining…
Though I wanted to take a picture of the beautiful Mt. Fuji, I wasn’t able to…( ̄▽ ̄;)
Why is the weather bad whenever I go to Shizuoka…
Ehhhhh(/- -)/
I will tanobaru without worrying about it
Just… I hope the bullet train doesn’t stop…
Because then everyone won’t be able to return home again…(–;)
I beg you, weather
Alright
Today I’ll have the best day
p.s.
Because it’s Christmas day, the pictures are(
1) Santa-shot
(
2) Christmas tree-shot
(
3) Tree and reindeer combo
Everyone, have a wonderful Christmas…
I’m sorry this entry is so long
Thank you for reading this far
Maimi Sightings for 12/24
Fellow ℃-ute Okai Chisato uploaded this group shot with Maimi, Nacky, and Mai in her update on the official ℃-ute blog.
Fellow ℃-ute member Suzuki Airi shared this 2(3?)-shot with Maimi in her update on the official ℃-ute blog.
Full translations of the other members’ entries can be found at blog!project.