Maimi joined Hello! Project in 2002 as part of a group of 15 girls known as Hello! Project Kids. In 2003, she was placed in her first group, the special unit “ZYX”, which released the two singles “Iku ZYX! Fly High” and “Shiroi TOKYO”. Then in 2005, Maimi joined and became the leader of the group ℃-ute, which consisted of the members of H!P Kids who didn’t become part of Berryz Koubou. After ℃-ute had their major debut in 2007, Maimi went on to release a duet with Abe Natsumi (“16sai no Koi Nante”, 2008) and join the special unit High-King. Maimi became the leader of Hello! Project after Sayumi Michishige’s graduation in 2014. As of June 12th, 2017, ℃-ute has broken-up and Maimi has left Hello! Project.

Trivia

• The youngest of three siblings, and has two older brothers.
• The older cousin of S/mileage member Takeuchi Akari.
• Close friends with Berryz Koubou’s Tokunaga Chinami.
• Has 3 pet dogs: Cologne (toy poodle), Aroma (toy poodle), Toilette (Pomeranian). She had a Jack Russell terrier named Rookie who passed away in 2015 due to age.
• Has a reputation as a “rain girl”, causing it to rain wherever she goes.
• Is known to sweat a lot during performances.
• Can play the piano.
• Played baseball when she was younger.
• Is known as the “Legend of Yajima” for her impressive performances in the running competitions at the 2003, 2004, and 2006 Hello! Project sports festivals.
• Is a member of UpFront’s futsal team, Gatas Brilhantes H.P.

Works

Photobooks

• Maimi (2007/04)
• Sou Sora (2008/01)
• 17 (2009/04)
• Yajima Maimi Photo Studio 2008-2010 (2010/06)
• Tabioto (2011/11)
• Hatachi (2012/11)
• My Museum (2013/05)
• Glass to Mizu (2013/10)
• Pure Eyes (2014/03)
• Yajimap Sweets Sugyou no Tabi (2015/04)
• Nobody knows 23 (2015/08)
• Hitori no Kisetsu (2015/08)

Image DVDs/Blu-rays

• 17’s -SEVENTEEN’S- (2009/04)
• Fix no E (2010/06)
• Umikaze (2011/03)
• a foggy doll (2011/09)
• a rainy day (2011/10)
• Imagine classic (2011/11)
• Tabioto Making DVD Special Edition (2012/01)
• Chelsie (2012/12)
• Hatachi Making DVD Special Edition (2012/12)
• My Museum Special DVD (2013/06)
• Smiling sky (2013/12)
• Blue Wind (2014/04)
• Ways (2014/12)
• Flowing (2015/10)
• Watashi no Kisetsu (2015/10)

Solos and Duets

• Natsu Doki Lipstick (2007/04)
• 16sai no Koi Nante (with Abe Natsumi) (2008/01)
• Watashi no Koibito na no ni (with Abe Natsumi) (2008/01)
• Image Color (with Suzuki Airi) (2008/03)
• Seishun Song (2009/01)
• Lonely girl’s night (2010/02)
• Seinaru Kane ga Hibiku Yoru (2010/12)
• Egao ni Namida ~THANK YOU! DEAR MY FRIENDS~ (2011/03)
• Kousui (2011/03)
• Ame (2013/02)

Miscellaneous

• [Radio] ℃-ute Yajima Maimi no I My Me Maimi~ (2008/07 – )
• [Movie] Fuyu no Kaidan ~Boku to Watashi to Obaachan no Monogatari~ (2009/07)
• [TV] Zacklly Senshi Piramekid (2010/04 – 2010/12)
• [Play] Ran (2010/07)
• [Movie] Black Angels (2011/04)
• [Play] Ran -2011 New version!!- (2011/05)
• [Movie] Zomvideo (2012)
• [Movie] Black Angels 2 (2012/07)
• [Movie] Black Angels 3 (2012/08)
• [Play] Sugar Spot (2012/11 – 12)
• [Play] Taklamakan (2013/05 – 06)
• [TV] Good Morning Call (2016)