Yaguchi Mari

Yaguchi Mari (矢口真里, Legal Name: Nakamura Mari (中村真里) is a singer, actress, and TV personality. She was a former second generation member and leader of Morning Musume. In 2009, she graduated with the rest of the Elder Club from Hello! Project. She has since released two singles and is now part of the OG member group called Afternoon Musume and Dream Morning Musume.

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1998
On May 3, she, along with Yasuda Kei and Ichii Sayaka, were chosen to be a part of the second generation of singers to be recruited into Morning Musume.

On November 18, she debuted with Morning Musume first sub-group Tanpopo.

She made her first movie debut in the movie Morning Cop, alongside the other Morning Musume members and Hello! Project soloist Heike Michiyo.

2000
On October 20, she created and formed Morning Musume sub-group Minimoni. She had an idea for a subgroup whose members were 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) in height or shorter. Yaguchi, and Morning Musume's songwriter and producer Tsunku, selected two of Morning Musume's newest members, Kago Ai and Tsuji Nozomi, for the new subgroup and the trio began performing in concerts as Minimoni. American-born Mika Todd of Coconuts Musume was later added into the group to give the group "an international flavour" and Tsunku made them official. Their debut single, Minimoni. Jankenpyon! / Haru Natsu Aki Fuyu Daisukki!, was a #1 hit. She also had a supporting role in another movie called Pinch Runner alongside the other Morning Musume members.

2002
On February 7, she released her first photobook titled Yaguchi.

She starred in another movie called Nama Tamago alsonside, Iida Kaori, Tsuji Nozomi, & Goto Maki. The movie was released on VHS format on March 15 and later on DVD format on May 15.

2003
Yaguchi became Morning Musume's sub-leader in May, after the graduation of Yasuda Kei.

On March 29, she graduated Minimoni, having Mika Todd replace her as leader. The group only lasted another year till Mika Todd's graduation from the group.

In July, she debuted with ZYX as leader. In ZYX, Yaguchi acted as a mentor to the Hello! Project Kids, showing them the ropes of being a performing member of Hello! Project. ZYX was the first unit that Hello! Project Kids officially joined.

She also made a guest appearance in one episode of the drama Kochira Hon Ikegami Sho.

She released two more photobooks, one titled ''Love Hello! Mari Yaguchi'', part of a idol DVD she had. The other being Pocket Morning Musume, Volume 2, which also features Abe Natsumi, Goto Maki, and Iida Kaori.

On October 10, she released her first essay book entitled Oira - MARI YAGUCHI FIRST ESSAY.

2005
On January 30, after the graduation of Iida Kaori, Yaguchi became leader and Yoshizawa Hitomi then became her support as sub-leader.

On April 14, it was reported by tabloid magazine FRIDAY that Yaguchi was in a relationship with actor Oguri Shun. She said she had "betrayed [her] position as an idol" and that she "want[ed] to move on with [her] career as an adult." As such, Yaguchi resigned from Morning Musume without a graduation ceremony.

Her first post-Morning Musume recording, Nigiyaka na Fuyu, done as a collaboration with Berryz Koubou, appears as the coupling track on Berryz Koubou's November 2005 single Gag 100 Kaibun Aishite Kudasai.

2006
In April, it was reported that Yaguchi and Oguri have broken up.

In 2006, she continues to appear on television and at live events on behalf of Hello! Project. She also co-hosts two weekly TV shows of her own (Yaguchi Hitori and Kanrui! Jikuu Times), has starred in two dramas, and frequently guest stars on other variety shows.

2007
At the start of 2007, she has started to sing during Hello! Project concerts again.

In summer, Yaguchi was casted to host a new Gyao TV show, Midtown TV, becoming her third tv-show on air. Midtown TV airs all weekdays and Yaguchi hosts it on Thursdays. Also, Mari and seven H!P Eggs are scheduled to appear live and with audience on Ciao TV, a Kids Station show, on September 2, from 19:00 to 19:30, on what appears to be yet a new TV show for her, which makes four Yaguchi Mari TV shows being aired simultaneously.

Yaguchi was the drama queen in a Japanese drama series called Sento no Musume!? (銭湯の娘!?, daughter of public bathhouse), Yaguchi was one of the main stars in a Japanese day time drama series called Gyarusa (ギャルサ, Gal Circle), along with her show Yaguchi Hitori, and MCing Hello! Project concerts. From May 25, and up to June 6, Yaguchi performed in Damn Yankees, a popular 1955 Broadway musical at the Tokyo Aoyama Theater.

Yaguchi Mari participated in the Minna no Fitness event on April 27. Minna no Fitness is a free internet workout. When asked about the comebacks of former Hello! Project members Goto Maki and Kago Ai, she replied that she hasn’t been in contact with them and doesn’t know any of the details.

2008
It was announced on October 19, on the official Hello! Project website, that Yaguchi will graduate from the Elder Club Hello! Project all together on March 31, 2009.

2009
She graduated with the rest of the Elder Club at a graduation concert was held at Yokohama Arena on February 1.

Yaguchi Mari's debut solo single is a collaboration with the TV show Quiz Hexagon, which has brought us the popular groups Pabo and Shuchishin. This will be the first solo release from Mari. The single is also a collaboration with Airband, and includes a randomly chosen photo card of either Mari or Airband. Yaguchi performed her new single live for the first time on Quiz Hexagon last night. It was an emotional performance for Mari who had not sung on live television in over four years.

In April, it was announced that Yaguchi will now be writing a “blog-like” column in Famitsu, one of the most respected video game magazines in Japan and the world. She will be talking about how girls are also passionate gamers. The column will also feature photos of Yaguchi. The column was said to be released on May 1st. The column will be titled “I’m a Gamer“.

In November, Yaguchi Mari has been made into a CG (computer graphic) character for a Yakuza themed video game titled Ryuu ga Gotoku: Densetsu wo Tsugumono. 

In December, the cover for Yaguchi Mari to Straw Hat’s single titled Kaze o Sagashite had been released. "Yaguchi Mari to Straw Hat" is the name of the Hexagon family unit for the song which features Yaguchi as the main singer. The song was used for the opening of the anime One Piece. 

2010
In February, Yaguchi announced on her blog that she will produce a restaurant called Shabushabu Onyasai Roppongi. The restaurant will open on March 19. She has mentioned on her blog that she has been fussing about the interior design, sampling food from the new menu, suggesting new menu ideas, working on staff uniforms and even working on a new uniform for her, so it seems that the restaurant will be suited to Yaguchi’s personality. 

On Yaguchi's Blog, it was said she and Maeda Yuuka will be in a movie titled Hoshisuna no Shima no Chiisana Tenshi ~Mermaid Smile~.

In March, It was revealed that Yaguchi Mari, Satoda Mai and Michishige Sayumi are to be regulars on the midnight TBS show Aimai na!. The air date was set on April 19th.

Also in March, Yaguchi also opened up a Gree blog.

In June, Yaguchi will be a regular on a local Nagoya show titled ''Go! Bungee Police'' along with Wada Ayaka. The show will start on 7/6.

In August, It was announced that Yaguchi Mari and S/mileage will appear on Downtown DX. The show will air on September 9th. 

On August 7, Mari joined the new promotional unit called Afternoon Musume with 7 other OG members for the Georgia coffee drinks.

2011
On January 2, some media outlets reported that ex-Morning Musume member Yaguchi Mari will be getting married to her boyfriend, Nakamura Masaya. According to a related source, Yaguchi has already said that she would be getting married, and now she needs to report her marriage and decide the day to register the marriage.

On January 28, It was announced that Mari was part of the OG member group Dream Morning Musume and that they will be releasing the groups first album, called Dreams. 1, on April 20th.

On May 21, it was announced that she had registered her marriage to actor Nakamura Masaya on May 22nd. Originally, the couple planned to marry in March, but, due to the earthquake, their plans were postponed.

On May 22nd, she married Nakamura Masaya.

Upon marriage, she has changed her name to Nakamura Mari, but will continue to use "Yaguchi Mari" as her stage name.

On May 22nd, Yaguchi Mari and actor Nakamura Masaya held a wedding ceremony at St. Grace Cathedral in Aoyama.

2013
On March 2nd and 3rd, Yaguchi participated in SATOYAMA e Yukou ~Forest For Rest~ along with other Hello! Project and UP-FRONT PROMOTION members.

From April 4, to April 9th, Yaguchi participated in the stage play Ikinukukiseki ~Juunenme no Negai.

Profile

 * Birth/Stage Name: Yaguchi Mari (矢口真里)
 * Legal Name: Nakamura Mari (中村真里)
 * Date Married: May 22, 2011
 * Nickname: Marippe (まりっぺ), Yagu-chan, Yaguttsan (やぐっつぁん), Yaguchorina and Oya-bin
 * Birth date: January 20, 1983 (age 30)
 * Birthplace: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
 * Blood Type: A
 * Profession: Actress, singer, and TV personality
 * Height: 144.8cm (4ft 9in.)
 * Feet size: 22cm
 * Weight: 39kg (86lbs)
 * Hello! Project Status:
 * 1998-05-03: Member
 * 2005-04-14: Left Morning Musume
 * 2009-03-31: Graduated
 * Years in Morning Musume: 7 Years
 * Former Morning Musume Color: Light Purple
 * Former Sakura Gumi Color: Pink
 * Western Zodiac: Capricorn
 * Eastern Zodiac: Dog
 * Education: Seya High School
 * Talent Agency: Up-Front Works
 * Hobbies: Playing video games, cooking (just a little), collecting platform shoes
 * Specialty: Making her mouth into the shape of a heart and fitting inside a boston bag
 * Impersonations: Ayumi Hamasaki, Chihiro Onitsuka and Michael Jackson
 * Favorite food: Yakiniku, Bibimbap, cheese, rice, ice, Smoked Shark, Mutton Soup
 * Favorite colour: White (as of 9th August 2007)
 * Disliked food: Milk, liver, avocado, green peas
 * Favorite sport: Table tennis, Badminton
 * Favorite words: Happy, pure, "Full power!"
 * Favorite season: Winter
 * Favorite song: "When You Wish Upon a Star" - Pinocchio
 * Favorite Morning Musume song: I WISH
 * Favorite flower: Sunflowers
 * Hello! Project Groups:
 * Morning Musume (1998-2005)
 * ZYX (2003)
 * ROMANS (2003)
 * Subgroups:
 * Tanpopo (1998-2002)
 * Minimoni (2000-2003)
 * Morning Musume Sakura Gumi (2003-2004)
 * Hello! Project Akagumi (2005)
 * Shuffle Groups:
 * Aoiro 7 (2000)
 * 7-nin Matsuri (2001)
 * Sexy 8 (2002)
 * 11WATER (2003)
 * H.P. All Stars (2004)
 * Current Groups:
 * Afternoon Musume (2010-)
 * Dream Morning Musume (2011-)
 * M-Line (2009-Present)

Morning Musume

 * Summer Night Town
 * Daite HOLD ON ME!
 * Memory Seishun no Hikari
 * Manatsu no Kousen
 * Furusato
 * LOVE Machine
 * Koi no Dance Site
 * Happy Summer Wedding
 * I WISH
 * Ren'ai Revolution 21
 * The☆Peace!
 * Mr.Moonlight ~Ai no Big Band~
 * Souda! We're ALIVE
 * Do it! Now
 * Koko ni Iruzee!
 * Morning Musume no Hyokkori Hyoutanjima
 * AS FOR ONE DAY
 * Shabondama
 * Go Girl ~Koi no Victory~
 * Ai Araba IT'S ALL RIGHT
 * Roman ~MY DEAR BOY~
 * Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari
 * Namida ga Tomaranai Houkago
 * THE Manpower!!!
 * Osaka Koi no Uta

Morning Musume Sakura Gumi

 * Hare Ame Nochi Suki♥
 * Sakura Mankai

Minimoni

 * Minimoni. Jankenpyon! / Haru Natsu Aki Fuyu Daisukki!
 * Minimoni. Telephone! Rin Rin Rin / Minimoni. Bus Guide
 * Minihamus no Ai no Uta
 * Minimoni. Hinamatsuri! / Mini. Strawberry~ Pie
 * Ai~n Taisou / Ai~n! Dance no Uta
 * Genki Jirushi no Oomori Song / Okashi Tsukutte Okkasui~!
 * Minihamus no Kekkon Song

H.P. All Stars

 * ALL FOR ONE & ONE FOR ALL!

ZYX

 * Iku ZYX! FLY HIGH
 * Shiroi TOKYO

Dream Morning Musume

 * Shining Butterfly

Tanpopo

 * Last Kiss
 * Motto
 * Tanpopo
 * Seinaru Kane ga Hibiku Yoru
 * Otome Pasta ni Kandou
 * Koi wo Shichaimashita!
 * Oujisama to Yuki no Yoru

Aoiro 7

 * Aoi Sports Car no Otoko

7nin Matsuri

 * Summer Reggae! Rainbow

Sexy 8

 * Shiawase Desu ka?

11WATER

 * BE ALL RIGHT!

ROMANS

 * SEXY NIGHT ~Wasurerarenai Kare~

Singles

 * 1) [2009.03.25] Seishun Boku
 * 2) [2010.01.13] Kaze wo Sagashite

Solo Songs

 * [2001.??.??] Marine Sports! (マリーンスポーツ！) (Fanclub solo CD)
 * [2004.02.18] Furusato (ふるさと; Hometown) (from Morning Musume Best Shot Vol.1) (Morning Musume cover)

Compilations

 * [2009.12.02] Petit Best 10 (#17 Seishun Boku)

Solo DVDs



 * [2003.07.16] Love-Hello! Yaguchi Mari DVD

Group DVDs

 * [2006.11.22] Alo-Hello! Yaguchi Mari & Tsuji Nozomi DVD

Solo Photobooks



 * [2002.02.07] Yaguchi (ヤグチ )
 * [2003.06.31] Love Hello! Mari Yaguchi (ラブハロ！矢口真里)
 * [2004.06.12] OFF
 * [2011.02.xx] CECILBOOK

Group Photobooks

 * [2003.09.??] Pocket Morning Musume. 〈Volume 2〉 (ポケットモーニング娘. 〈Vol.2〉) (With Abe Natsumi, Goto Maki, Iida Kaori)
 * [2004.11.17] Alo-Hello! Morning Musume Shashin Shuu (アロハロ!モーニング娘. 写真集)

Essay Books

 * [2003.10.10] Oira - MARI YAGUCHI FIRST ESSAY (おいら―MARI YAGUCHI FIRST ESSAY)
 * [2007.06.25] Chicchai Yaguchi 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!!)

Records

 * Sources from 矢口真里
 * All Night Nippon's youngest and shortest radio personality.
 * Yaguchi Mari's All Night Nippon SUPER!'s achieved 100% middle-school male students listener rating
 * Love Hello! Yaguchi Mari DVD was the best-selling Idol DVD in Japan

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 Daibouken!
 * [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)
 * [2010] Hoshisuna no Shima no Chiisana Tenshi ~Mermaid Smile~ (星砂の島のちいさな天使～マーメイド　スマイル)

TV Dramas

 * [2003] Kochira Hon Ikegami Sho (こちら本池上署 ) (One episode guest appearance only)
 * [2006] Sentou no Musume!? (銭湯の娘!? )
 * [2006] Gal Circle (ギャルサー )

TV Shows

 * [2004] Yaguchi Hitori Maru C (やぐちひとり(C))
 * [2006] Kanrui! Jikuu Times (感涙！時空タイムス) (discontinued)
 * [2007] MIDTOWN TV Official website
 * [2007] Chao.TV Official website

Anime

 * [2001] Hamtaro Movie 1: Adventures in Ham Ham Land (voice of Gu)
 * [2002] Hamtaro Movie 2: The Captive Princess (voice of Gu)
 * [2003] Hamtaro Movie 3: Miracle in Aurora Valley (voice of Gu)

Trivia

 * She has a younger sister, former AKIHABARA Backstage pass member Yaguchi Miki.
 * Yaguchi was the first person from Morning Musume to "resign" due to a scandal. She received no graduation concert, or final performances due to this circumstance, but made it clear that she'll return as a solo artist in 2006.
 * She was famous for her "Sexy Beam!" line from "Koi no Dance Site" and when 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.
 * She is good friends with Yasuda Kei.
 * After long being out of Morning Musume, she often came out and discussed how Tsuji Nozomi terrorized her in Minimoni and Morning Musume and also said whenever she sees her cry, even till this day, she is not affected by it and thinks she is faking.
 * She is known and favorited for her exuberant and irreverent personality.
 * She was also famous for being the smallest member of Morning Musume at only 145 cm (4 ft. 9 in.) and 39 kg (86 lbs.).
 * She was a member of Tanpopo, one of the first sub groups, and also founded Minimoni. She was also was leader of ZYX and Morning Musume Sakura Gumi after Abe Natsumi graduated. She was also in ROMANS.
 * When she graduated from Morning Musume, she was the last person to graduate that joined before the year 2000 (Iida Kaori had left about 2 months before).
 * She currently has the fifth longest tenure of any member, with only Takahashi Ai, Niigaki Risa, Yoshizawa Hitomi and Iida Kaori being in the succeeding her.
 * This new focus on television prompted Yaguchi, during an interview with actor Hugh Jackman, to jokingly describe herself as a "variety idol". Although she later regretted the joke — because she has tried to distance herself from her idol image — the nickname has stuck amongst her fans.
 * She is the last one to leave Morning Musume in her Generation
 * She is the sixth former Morning Musume member to get married, the first being Ishiguro Aya, second being Ichii Sayaka, third being Iida Kaori, fourth being Tsuji Nozomi, and fifth being Fujimoto Miki.
 * Her short height have been proved to help her in many situations.
 * Went on a trip to Iceland to film for "What is a Japenese Woman Doing Here?"
 * She is a fan of the American TV show Glee and her favorite character is Finn Hudson.
 * When on a trip yo Russia she got into a taxi and the driver drove off without the staff. The staff had to chase down the taxi to get her back.
 * When on a trip to Russia she made Matryoshka dolls representing each meber from Yu-chan to Kago Ai.