Blog Archives
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.
Maimi Sightings for November 23rd
Fellow ℃-ute member Hagiwara Mai went to go see Maimi’s play “Sugar Spot” today and wrote about it in her update on the official ℃-ute blog. Mai wrote that Maimi’s acting was the best, and that she thought Maimi, who was able to play a role completely different than herself, was amazing.
Fellow ℃-ute member Suzuki Airi also went to see “Sugar Spot”, and shared a 3-shot with the stars Maimi and Tokunaga Chinami in her update.
Berryz Koubou’s Kumai Yurina went and saw “Sugar Spot” along with Mai, and shared a group shot of her, Mai, Maimi, and Chinami in an update on her official blog.
Last but not least, “Sugar Spot” writer/director Shioda Taizo updated his official blog with a post focused on Maimi. Mr. Shioda wrote about how he respected Maimi’s composure in spite of having to juggle play and concert practice at the same time. In addition, he also talked about several struggles he came across coming up with Maimi’s role. As Maimi is a wonderful person, she needs a wonderful role, and also one that taps into her unlimited acting potential. Other things he considered were her special relationship with Chinami, and a writer’s duty to create a flawed character for someone flawless like Maimi.
Check out blog!project for full translations of the other ℃-ute and Hello! Project members’ blog updates.
“CAT’S♥EYE” media round-up
There’s been a ton of coverage online of the press conference for the recently announced “CAT’S♥EYE” play starring members of Berryz Koubou and ℃-ute, so here’s a round-up of some of the videos and articles:
ZENON video:
MAiDiGi TV video
JIJIPRESS video
MANTAN WEB article
My Navi News article
Eiga.com article
TV Asahi News article
SANSPO.com article
Chunichi Sports article
47 News article
Natalie.mu article
Sponichi article
Daily Sports Online article
More “CAT’S♥EYE” details
A press conference for the recently announced “CAT’S♥EYE” play was held today at Asakasa Sacas, which MANTAN WEB again reported on. More details of the play were revealed, including that the the three main roles would be played by Maimi (“Hitomi”), Sudou Maasa (“Rui”), and Hagiwara Mai (“Ai”). All of the Berryz Koubou and ℃-ute members will have the same roles in both versions, which will tell the same story from two different perspectives: “To steal” (A version) and “To be stolen from” (B version). In addition, a special unit consisting of the Berikyuu members in the play, “CAT’S♥EYE 7”, has been formed for the duration of the play, and performed a remake of the “CAT’S♥EYE” theme song at the event.
A gallery of 26 images can be seen at the MANTAN WEB article.
Maimi to appear in “CAT’S♥EYE” play
Maimi will be appearing alongside Berryz Koubou and ℃-ute members in the upcoming play “CAT’S♥EYE”, based on the popular Shounen Jump manga from the early 80s, according to a Mantan Web article. The play will be the 12th installment of the “GekiHaro” series, and feature Berryz Koubou members Shimizu Saki, Sudou Maasa, Kumai Yurina, and Sugaya Risako, and Maimi, Nakajima Saki, and Hagiwara Mai from ℃-ute in two different versions. Performances will run from September 22nd to the 30th at the Ikebukuro Sunshine Theater in Tokyo, and on October 13th and 14th at the Ion Keshouhin Theater BRAVA! in Osaka.
Kawaii girl Japan video on “Chou HAPPY SONG”
Maimi, fellow ℃-ute members Hagiwara Mai and Okai Chisato, and Berryz Koubou members Shimizu Saki, Sudou Maasa, and Kumai Yurina recorded some comments on Berikyuu’s brand new single “Chou HAPPY SONG” for the website Kawaii girl Japan. In the English-subtitled video, the girls are asked their thoughts on the song, each others’ groups, and which songs made them happy as children.
B℃ST “LIVE NEXT!!” goods
The official Hello! Project website has added the goods list for this weekend’s upcoming “LIVE NEXT!! Featuring Hello! Project” event on 9/3, where the special unit B℃ST will make their debut. The goods consist of a group photoset, and an individual photoset for each of the five members (Maimi’s pictured above). More information on the group B℃ST can be found in this earlier update.
“LIVE NEXT!!” goods list at the official Hello! Project website
Maimi joins special unit “B℃ST”
Maimi will take part in a special unit formed for the upcoming “LIVE NEXT!! Featuring Hello! Project” event on 9/3, called “B℃ST” (pronounced “bii kyuu es tii” and standing for “Berryz Koubou & ℃-ute Special Team”). Maimi is joined by Berryz Koubou members Shimizu Saki, Tokunaga Chinami, Kumai Yurina, and fellow ℃-ute member Nakajima Saki.
The October issue of B.L.T. magazine features a light-hearted interview with the members of the “mysterious unit” B℃ST (pictured above, courtesy of the fans at 2ch), where the girls try to figure out the reason they were put together, decide on who will be the leader of the group (Chinami gets elected), and try to come up with a concept for the unit (“a fumbling group”). Unfortunately, it seems as though for the time being B℃ST is a one-shot unit for “LIVE NEXT!!”, as B.L.T. describes them as a group formed just for that purpose.
More information on “LIVE NEXT!! Featuring Hello! Project” can be found at the official Hello! Project website.
Maimi & Yurina 2-shot collection
To commemorate the 18th birthday of Berryz Koubou’s Kumai Yurina, I’ve gathered all the 2-shots of the two Bello! members I could find from Maimi’s blog updates and added them here. Happy 18th birthday, Kumai-chan, and ENJOY!
MaimiLog 