Maki Goto 後藤眞希 - Japanese Beauty J-pop Singer

Maki Goto (後藤 真希, Gotō Maki, born September 23, 1985 in Edogawa, Tokyo, Japan) is a J-pop singer currently signed to the sublabel Rhythm Zone under the Avex Trax label. Before joining Avex, she was a soloist of Hello! Project and member of Morning Musume. She has performed in numerous Hello! Project subgroups such as Petitmoni, Akagumi 4, 7-nin Matsuri, Sexy 8, Gomattou and Nochiura Natsumi.

Profile

Name: Maki Goto(後藤 真希)​

Also known as: Gomaki, Gocchin, Gocchan

Born: September 23, 1985 (1985-09-23) (age 23)

Origin: Edogawa, Tokyo, Japan

Genre(s): Japanese pop

Occupation(s): Singer

Years active: 1999–present

Label(s): Zetima, Piccolo Town, Rhythm Zone

Associated acts: Morning Musume, Gomattou, Nochiura Natsumi, DEF.DIVA, Petitmoni, Akagumi 4, 7-nin Matsuri, Sexy 8, H.P. All Stars

Biography

Success in Hello! Project

In 1999, Maki Goto was selected as the only member for the 3rd generation of Morning Musume. Their first single after Goto joined, "Love Machine" sold over a million copies, over nine times the amount of copies they had sold for their previous single. During her time in Morning Musume she was one of the founding members of Petitmoni and she started a solo singing career in 2001 with the single "Ai no Bakayarō" (愛のバカやろう). Until her graduation from Morning Musume she was one of the leading vocalists in most of the songs released. Post-graduation she has mostly concentrated on her solo career and occasionally on limited time Hello! Project units such as Gomattou, Nochiura Natsumi, and DEF.DIVA. As time has passed, she has increasingly concentrated on acting in addition to singing. She has also performed at the Asia song festival 2005 in Pusan, Korea to represent Japan.

In early 2007, Goto was chosen to be a member of Morning Musume Tanjō 10 Nen Kinentai—a unit created to celebrate Morning Musume's 10th anniversary as a group. Morning Musume Tanjō 10 Nen Kinentai also consists of Natsumi Abe, Kaori Iida, Risa Niigaki and Koharu Kusumi. Their single, "Bokura ga Ikiru My Asia", was released on January 24, 2007.

Her seventeenth single, "Secret" (シークレット), was released on April 11, 2007. On September 19, 2007, Goto's fourth original album How to Use Sexy was released.

On October 20, 2007, Goto's younger brother and former member of EE Jump idol group Yūki Goto (祐樹?) was arrested on the grounds he and two accomplices, aged 18 and 19, had broken into a construction site in Edogawa, Tokyo on July 15, 2007 and made off with 80 reels of electric cable worth approximately 1 million yen. According to Flash magazine, Goto and one of her brother's accomplices had been romantically involved for some time, after the two met at Yūki's wedding in 2005. Due to the circumstances surrounding the robbery scandal, they haven't been in contact with each other.

On October 28, 2007, during the last concert of her G-EmotionII ~How to Use Sexy~ tour, Goto suddenly announced to fans that she would be graduating from Hello! Project, though she was also leaving UpFront Agency completely. Her graduation was said to be that she was overworked and overly stressed, causing her health problems. She also had different ideas of the direction of her career than what her agency had planned. Because of her graduation, she would not be able to participate in the Hello! Project 2008 Winter concert tour, previously said to be because of "scheduling conflicts".

Goto's official blog reopened on March 25, 2008. Over the course of several entries, she revealed that she was in Los Angeles, California, taking singing and dancing lessons. In mid-June, rumours were confirmed that Goto signed under the label Rhythm Zone, an Avex Trax sublabel.

Avex signs-in Goto

Late in 2007, after her sudden Hello! Project graduation, rumors aroused the very next day stating that Avex's CEO, Max Matsuura, had shown interest in signing Goto in for Avex. During Goto's brother trial, she disappeared from the media-eye.

On March 25, 2008, Maki re-opened her blog during her stay in Los Angeles, where she studied and practiced different types of song and dance, including R&B, jazz and hip-hop. Her blog didn't include any reference to Up-Front agency (but was still on the same address), and it was assumed that her contract with Up-Front had expired on March 1 and was not renewed as expected. Her last blog entry was on April 22.

On June 19, 2008 (after many rumors had circulated), it was released to the press that Goto Maki had signed with the record label Rhythm Zone under avex.

Maki debuted with Avex when she participated in the company's shareholders' meeting on June 22, 2008, singing a cover of Whitney Houston's "Saving All My Love for You." She also participated in a-nation'08 (Osaka on August 24 and Tokyo on August 31) alongside with Kumi Koda, Ai Otsuka, EXILE, Ami Suzuki, AAA, TVXQ, Namie Amuro, and Ayumi Hamasaki, among others. On a-nation, she performed the self-written song "Hear me", a song unreleased to the date, drawing media attention for the first time since her graduation. She also sang "Saving All My Love for You", and a cover of Diana King's "Shy Guy".

SWEET BLACK Project

The SWEET BLACK Project is a cross-media collaboration between J-WAVE, Avex and Mixi. Goto herself chose the logo and the name, which is meant to reflect the “positive and negative” side of the life of today’s women.

On January 5, 2009, J-WAVE premiered “SWEET BLACK Girls”, a 15 minutes segment hosted by Goto Maki and Ryu as part of the popular radio show “PLATOn”. The show airs Mon-Fri and focuses on the life of women on their twenties. Reception was extremely good, as 30,000 messages were received during the first week only.

To complete the project, Mixi, the most used networking community in Japan, opened a special space for Sweet Black, and Avex launched a web-documentary on YouTube based on Goto’s daily routine as a singer. Immediate success was acquainted, admittedly beyond expectations.

On January 21, Goto released her first digital single with Avex: Fly away. The lyrics, penned by Maki herself, are based on Mambo, a story written by young author Hitomi Kanehara, who won the Akutagawa Prize for her 2003 novel "Hebi ni Piasu" ("Snakes and Earrings").

Barely a month later, on February 25, Goto released her second digital single, titled Lady-Rise, also penned by herself. This time, Goto collaborated with Sakurazawa Erika, a Japanese manga author whose works are mostly published in josei magazines (comics targeted to a young women audience).

On March 7, Goto modeled at Japan’s biggest fashion event, Tokyo Girls Collection.

Discography

Digital releases

# Title Release date Ringtone Sales Sales Rank

1 Fly away (SWEET BLACK feat. MAKI GOTO) 2009-01-21 – – –

2 Lady-Rise (SWEET BLACK feat. MAKI GOTO) 2009-02-25 – – –

3 with... (SWEET BLACK feat. MAKI GOTO) 2009-04-21 – – –

Collaborations

# Title Release date Album Artist Sales Rank

1 GOLDEN Luv feat. MAKI GOTO 2009-02-18 Believe in LOVE feat. BoA (single) ravex – –

2 Fly away (House Nation Remix) 2009-04-08 House Nation - Ruby V.A. – –

Hello! Project Discography and releases

Albums

# Title Release date Peak rank and sales

1 Makking Gold 1 (マッキングGold) February 5, 2003 #4 / 104,999

2 2 Paint It Gold (ペイント イット ゴールド) January 28, 2004 #4 / 52,040

3 3rd Station (3rd ステーション) February 23, 2005 #11 / 32,356

– Goto Maki Premium Best 1 (後藤真希 プレミアムベスト) December 14, 2005 #9 / 29,626

4 How to Use Sexy September 19, 2007 #18 / 14,996

Singles

# Title Release date Peak rank

Total sales

1 "Ai no Bakayarou"

(愛のバカやろう, Love Fool) March 28, 2001

434,790

2 "Afurechau...Be in Love"

(溢れちゃう．．．Be in Love, Gonna Overflow...Be in Love) September 19, 2001

210,360

3 "Te o Nigitte Arukitai"

(手を握って歩きたい, I Want to Walk Holding Hands) May 9, 2002

104,630

4 "Yaruki! It's Easy"

(やる気! It's Easy, Motivation! It's Easy) August 21, 2002

113,260

5 "Sans Toi m'Amie/Kimi to Itsumademo"

(サントワマミー/君といつまでも, Without You, My Love/Always With You) December 18, 2002

58,644

6 "Uwasa no Sexy Guy"

(うわさのSexy Guy, Rumoured Sexy Guy) March 19, 2003

61,424

7 "Scramble"

(スクランブル, Sukuramburu) June 18, 2003

46,181

8 "Daite yo! Please Go On"

(抱いてよ! Please Go On, Hold Me! Please Go On) August 27, 2003

58,501

9 "Genshoku Gal Hade ni Ikube!"

(原色Gal派手に行くべ!, Primary Color Gal Goes All Out!) November 27, 2003

45,494

10 "Sayonara no Love Song"

(サヨナラのLove Song, Love Song of Goodbye) March 17, 2004

35,126

11 "Yokohama Shinkirō"

(横浜蜃気楼, Yokohama Mirage) July 7, 2004

30,984

12 "Sayonara 'Tomodachi ni wa Naritakunai no'"

(さよなら「友達にはなりたくないの」, Goodbye "I Don't Want to Be Friends") November 17, 2004

29,004

13 "Suppin to Namida"

(スッピンと涙。, Tears and a Face With No Make-Up) July 6, 2005

20,709

14 "Ima ni Kitto...In My Life"

(今にきっと...In My Life, Surely Soon...In My Life) January 25, 2006

21,409

15 "Glass no Pumps"

(ガラスのパンプス, Glass Pumps) June 7, 2006

27,907

16 "Some Boys! Touch" October 11, 2006

29,459

17 "Secret"

(シークレット, Shīkuretto) April 11, 2007

14,861

†: The only Hello! Project solo release to place #1 on the weekly charts.

DVDs

Concert

[2003.07.24] Goto Maki First Concert Tour 2003 Haru ~Go! Makking Gold~

[2004.02.25] Goto Maki Concert Tour 2003 Aki Sexy! Makking Gold

[2004.09.15] Goto Maki Concert Tour 2004 Haru ~Makkin-iro ni Nucchae!~

[2005.01.26] Goto Maki Concert Tour 2004 Aki Aa Maki no Shirabe

[2006.01.18] Goto Maki Concert Tour 2005 Aki ~Hatachi~

[2006.07.05] Hello Pro Party! 2006 ~Goto Maki Captain Kōen~

[2006.10.11] Maki Goto Secret Live at Studio Coast

[2007.02.21] Goto Maki Live Tour 2006 ~G Emotion~

[2007.04.25] Hello☆Pro On Stage! 2007 ｢Rock desu yo!｣

[2007.11.28] Goto Maki Live Tour 2007 G-EmotionII ~How to Use Sesy~

Other

[2003.03.05] Ken & Mary no Merikenko On Stage! Original Cast Ban

[2003.12.10] Goto Maki Single V Clips 1 (後藤真希 シングルVクリップス )

Photobooks

[2001.11.06] Goto Maki (後藤真希)

[2003.03.21] maki

[2003.09.??] Pocket Morning Musume. <Vol. 2> ( ポケットモーニング娘。〈Vol.2〉) - with Abe Natsumi, Yaguchi Mari, Iida Kaori

[2003.06.27] more maki

[2004.04.24] PRISM

[2004.07.23] Alo-Hello! Goto Maki ( アロハロ!後藤真希)

[2005.04.26] Dear...

[2006.08.21] FOXY FUNGO

Essay books

[2002.09.??] Goto Maki myself ( 後藤真希myself)

[2002.12.??] Goto Maki Otakara Photo BOOK ( 後藤真希お宝フォトBOOK)

[2003.09.23] 99 no Goto Maki (99の後藤真希)

[2003.12.??] Goto Maki Seishun no Sokuseki ( 後藤真希 青春の足跡)

[2005.04.07] Goto Maki Chronicle 1999 - 2004 (19992004―後藤真希クロニクル)

Acts

Movies

[2000] Pinch Runner (ピンチランナー)

[2002] Nama Tamago ( ナマタマゴ)

[2003] Seishun Bakachin Ryorijuku ( 青春ばかちん料理塾)

[2003] Koinu Dan no Monogatari (子犬ダンの物語)

Television dramas

[2001] Mariya ( マリア)

[2002] Yanpapa (やんぱぱ)

[2002] Izu no Odoriko (伊豆の踊子)

[2003] R.P.G.

[2005] Yoshitsune (大河ドラマ 義経)

[2006] Matsumoto Seichou Special Yubi ( 松本清張スペシャル・指)

Musicals

[2003] Ken & Mary no Merikenko on Stage! (けん&メリーのメリケン粉オンステージ!)

[2004] Sayonara no LOVE SONG ( サヨナラのLOVE SONG)

[2007] Gekidan Senior Graffiti Yokosuka Story (横須賀ストーリー)

Radio

[2003-20??] Young Town Douyoubi ( ヤングタウン土曜日)

[2003-2005] Goto Maki no Makkinkin RADIO ( 後藤真希のマッキンキンRADIO)

[2009-] J-WAVE（81.3 FM）「SWEET BLACK Girls」 (毎週月～木曜日 23:05～23:15　※「PLATOn」内)

Concerts

[2003.09.30] Goto Maki in Hello! Project 2003 Natsu (後藤真希 in Hello! Project 2003夏)

[2004.03.13] Goto Maki in Hello! Project 2004 Winter (後藤真希 in Hello! Project 2004 Winter)

[2004.06.30] Maki Goto Photobook Concert Tour 2004 Spring ~Magane Shoku ni Nucchae!~ (Maki Goto Photobook Concert Tour 2004 Spring~真金色に塗っちゃえ！~)

[2004.09.28] Goto Maki in Hello! Project 2004 summer (後藤真希 in Hello! Project 2004 summer)

[2005.07.06] Nochiura Natsumi Live "Triangle Energy" (後浦なつみライブ「TRIANGLE ENERGY) – With Nochiura Natsumi

[2005.10.25] Goto Maki + Melon Kinenbi Hello! Project 2005 Natsu no Kayō Show -05' Selection! Collection! (後藤真希+メロン記念日Hello!Project2005夏の歌謡ショー―05’セレクション!コレクション!) – With Melon Kinenbi

[2006.04.07] Goto Maki & Matsuura Aya in Hello! Project 2006 Winter (後藤真希&松浦亜弥in Hello!Project 2006 Winter) – With Aya Matsuura