Maimi Yajima

Maimi Yajima (矢島 舞美) 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. She was 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 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.

On November 8, 2022, she announced her marriage with actor Ryosuke Mikata. On March 25, 2024, she announced her first pregnancy.

Movies

 * Koinu Dan no Monogatari (仔犬ダンの物語)
 * Fuyu no Kaidan: Boku to Watashi to Obāchan no Motogatari (冬の怪談〜ぼくとワタシとおばあちゃんの物語〜) (2009)
 * Ōsama Game (December 17, 2011)
 * Zomvideo (ゾンビデオ) (December 29, 2012)
 * First Love (2019)
 * BLACKFOX: Age of the Ninja (2019)

Straight-to-video

 * Black Angels (ブラック・エンジェルズ) (April 27, 2011, Geneon Universal Entertainment) as Reira
 * Black Angels 2 (ブラック・エンジェルズ2〜黒木覚醒編〜) (July 4, 2012)
 * Black Angels 3 (ブラック・エンジェルズ3〜黒木死闘編〜) (August 3, 2012)

TV dramas

 * Sūgaku Joshi Gakuen'' (January 11, 2012 – March 28, 2012)
 * Mannequin Girls (マネキン・ガールズ) (2011)

Television

 * Chikyū Seibā: Yume no Gijutsu de Mirai o Sukue! (地球セイバー 夢の技術で未来を救え!) (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)
 * Ahoya nen! Sukiya nen! (あほやねん!すきやねん!) (NHK Osaka, April 21, 2009)
 * Bijo Hōdan (美女放談) (June 26, 2009) — a talk show featuring Hello! Project members
 * Piramekiino G (ピラメキーノG)
 * Bijo Gaku (美女学)
 * Hello Pro! Time (ハロプロ！ＴＩＭＥ)
 * Hello! Satoyama Life (ハロー！ＳＡＴＯＹＡＭＡライフ)

Radio

 * Cutie Party (November 4, 2006 – ongoing)
 * °C-ute Maimi Yajima's I My Me Maimi~ (°C-ute矢島舞美のI My Me まいみ〜) (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)
 * Michishige Sayumi no "Mobekimasutte Nani??" (道重さゆみの『モベキマスってなに？？』) (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