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Mari Nakamura (中村真里 Nakamura Mari?), known professionally by her birth name of Mari Yaguchi (矢口 真里 Yaguchi Mari?) (born January 20, 1983) is a Japanese pop artist, actress and TV personality and former member of Hello! Project. She is a former member of Japanese idol group Morning Musume and Sub-group Tanpopo, one of its first sub groups, and also founded Minimoni. She later became the leader of both Morning Musume Sakuragumi and ZYX. She is currently a member of Japanese pop group Dream Morning Musume.
Biography[]
Morning Musume[]
Mari Yaguchi became a member of Morning Musume during the second generation auditions in 1998, but resigned suddenly in April 2005. She said her reason was a desire to move on "as an adult"[citation needed] with her career. The underlying reason she had to quit was that the tabloid magazine Friday discovered she was in a relationship with actor Shun Oguri, though she was 22 at the time. Yaguchi's TV show Yaguchi Hitori (やぐちひとり?) continued as before, and she began to focus on Japanese variety shows rather than on a singing career. Yaguchi and Oguri reportedly broke up in April 2006.
In her early years in the group, Yaguchi was often perceived as being "the short one" as she did not stand out a lot. However, by the time 4th generation had joined, she had become one of the most active members of the group. Her famous catchphrase is "Sexy Beam!"[citation needed], one of her solo lines from Morning Musume's "Koi no Dance Site" single, and she was asked jokingly in "Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari", "When will your real sexy beam come out?" The "Sexy Beam!" line has made its way around fans and fellow musicians alike. When she resigned from Morning Musume, she was the last member to have joined before the year 2000 (Kaori Iida had left nearly 2 months earlier).
Post-Morning Musume[]
Her first post-Morning Musume recording, "Nigiyaka na Fuyu," a collaboration with Berryz Kobo, appears as the coupling track on Berryz Kobo's November 2005 single "Gag 100kaibun Aishite Kudasai."
Yaguchi starred in the Japanese drama series called Sentō no Musume!? (銭湯の娘!??, "Daughter of the Public Bathhouse!?") along with fellow Hello! Project member Mai Hagiwara. Yaguchi was also one of the main actors in the Japanese daytime drama series called Gal Circle (ギャルサー Garusaa?). She co-hosted her show Yaguchi Hitori, and did MCing for Hello! Project concerts. From May 25, 2007 to June 6, 2007, Yaguchi performed in Damn Yankees, a popular 1955 Broadway musical, at the Tokyo Aoyama Theater.[1]
In summer of 2007, Yaguchi was recruited to host the Gyao internet TV show Midtown TV, which became her third television show on air. Live broadcasts of Midtown TV aired weekdays and Yaguchi hosted on Thursdays. Mari and seven Hello! Pro Eggs appeared live and with audience on Ciao TV. With that commencing, Yaguchi was in four TV shows being aired simultaneously[citation needed].
It was announced October 19, 2008, on the official Hello! Project website, that Yaguchi, together with the entire Hello! Project Elder Club, would graduate March 31, 2009.[2] A graduation concert was held at Yokohama Arena on February 1, 2009.[3]
Following the popularity of singles and an album released in conjunction with the Japanese variety program, Quiz! Hexagon II (クイズ!ヘキサゴンII?), Yaguchi released her debut single, "Seishun Boku/Seishun Ore" (青春 僕/青春 俺?), four years after her final release in Morning Musume. She performed the song for the first time on Quiz! Hexagon II on February 25, 2009.
In December 2010, a rumor began circulating, claiming that Yaguchi would be marrying her boyfriend, actor Masaya Nakamura. Nakamura and Yaguchi were quick to state on their blogs saying that while it remained a possibility, the marriage was not finalized. Additionally, it was announced that Yaguchi will be joining the newly formed group, "Dream Morning Musume" alongside other former Morning Musume members.
Yaguchi and Nakamura submitted their marriage papers on May 22, 2011. The two originally had planned on getting married mid-March, but postponed to May due to the earthquake.[4]
Discography and releases[]
For releases as a member of Morning Musume, please see the Morning Musume discography.===Singles===
| # | Title | Release date | Peak rank | Sales | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Seishun Boku/Seishun Ore" (青春 僕/青春 俺?) | March 25, 2009 | 6 | 33,126 | Debut solo single "Seishun Ore" (青春 俺?) is performed by Airband (エアバンド?) |
| 2 | Kaze o Sagashite (風をさがして?) | January 13, 2010 | 2 | ~37,000 | Credited as Yaguchi Mari with Straw Hat This song is the twelfth One Piece opening, starting from episode 426 and ending with episode 458. |
Photobooks[]
| # | Title | Release date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yaguchi (ヤグチ?) | February 7, 2002 | ISBN 4-8470-2697-7 |
| 2 | Love Hello! Yaguchi Mari Shashinshū (ラブハロ！矢口真里写真集?) | July 2, 2003 | ISBN 4-04-853657-5 |
| 3 | Off | June 12, 2004 | ISBN 4-8470-2810-4 |
Essay books[]
| # | Title | Release date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oira - Mari Yaguchi First Essay (おいら―Mari Yaguchi First Essay?) | October 10, 2003 | ISBN 4-8470-1502-9 |
| 2 | Chitchai Yaguchi Mari no Dekkai Anata ni Ai ni Iku no da!! (ちっちゃい矢口真里のでっかいあなたに会いに行くのだ!!?) | June 25, 2007 | ISBN 4-08-780470-4 |
Filmography[]
Movies[]
- 1998 – Morning Cop (モーニング刑事?)
- 2000 – Pinch Runner (ピンチランナー?)
- 2002 – Nama Tamago (ナマタマゴ?)
- 2002 – Minimoni ja Movie: Okashi na Daibōken! (ミニモニ。じゃ ムービー お菓子な大冒険!?)
- 2003 – Koinu Dan no Monogatari (子犬ダンの物語?)
- 2006 – One Piece The Movie: Episode of Alabasta: The Desert Princess and the Pirates (One Piece エピソードオブアラバスタ 砂漠の王女と海賊たち?, Voice acting role)
- 2008 – Kung Fu-kun (カンフーくん?)
- 2008 – Journey to the Center of the Earth (Japanese release, voice)[5]
- 2010 – Hoshizuna No Shima No Chiisana Tenshi: Mermaid's Smile ( 星砂の島のちいさな天使～マーメイドスマイル～?)
Television series[]
- 2003 – Kochira Hon Ikegami Sho (こちら本池上署?)
- 2006 – Sentō no Musume!? (銭湯の娘!??)
- 2006 – Gal Circle (ギャルサー?)
- 2009 – One Piece (ワンピース?, Voice acting role)
- 2011 – Digimon Xros Wars (デジモンクロスウォーズ?, Character Design + Voice acting role)[6]