Mai Shiraishi

Mai Shiraishi
Background information
Also known as	Maiyan
Born	(1992-08-20) August 20, 1992
Origin	Gunma, Japan
Genres	J-pop
Occupation(s)	Singer and model
Years active	2011-present
Associated acts	Nogizaka46

Mai Shiraishi (白石 麻衣, Shiraishi Mai, born August 20, 1992 in Gunma) is a singer and model who is a member of the Japanese idol girl group Nogizaka46.^[1][2]

Career

After graduating from High School, Shiraishi pursue her studies in a music college since she desired to be a singer. Later on, one of her teacher suggest her to audition for Nogizaka46.^[3]

Her idol career started when she was accepted to be one of the 1st Generation member in AKB48 Official Rival Group, Nogizaka46, on 21 August 2011. She was chosen as one of the members in Nogizaka46 to release their debut song "Guruguru Curtain" on 22 February 2012. When Nogizaka46 release their 2nd single "Oide Shampoo", she was chosen again to be in the senbatsu. Her career as a model started as she participated in Girls Award 2012 Autumn/Winter with her fellow Nogizaka46 member, Nanase Nishino.^[4]

Her name became more well known as she appeared in a midnight show Count Down TV Special! Toshikoshi Premier Live 2012-2013 (1 January 2013)^[5] and a midnight horse racing show Uma Zuki! (16 March 2013)^[6] which is viewed by the minimum age of 20 years. In Japan broadcast channel, Fuji Television, Shiraishi is chosen to be the MC of the horse racing show Uma Zuki! since 5 January 2013^[6] and a presenter in midnight variety show, Bachi Bachi Elekiteru since 16 April 2013.^[7]

She became the youngest model for women's fashion magazine Ray issued by Shufonotomo since 23 March 2013.^[8] Shiraishi really loves the fashion world and has stated that she once dreamt to become a model during her high school years.

Shiraishi was chosen for the first time to assume the center position in Nogizaka46 for their sixth single "Girl's Rule" which was released on 3 July 2013.^[9] The single sold 452,310 copies which is a huge increase by 140,000 copies compared to their fifth single.^[10]

On December 17, Shiraishi held a release event for her 1st photo book 'Seijun na Otona Shiraishi Mai' (A Pure Adult). Shiraishi is the 1st member from Nogizaka46 to release a solo photo book. "I'm happy to be the first one," she expressed.^[11] She also released her 2nd Photobook "MAI STYLE" , which was released on the 23rd January 2015 as the first photobook was highly perceived.^[12]

Appearances

TV dramas

• Kamen Teacher (NTV, 2014), Akari Hayase^[13]
• Hatsumori Bemars (TV Tokyo, 2015), as Kirei^[14]
• Honto ni Atta Kowai Hanashi Natsu no Tokubetsu-hen 2016 - Mou Hitori no Elevator (Fuji TV, 2016)^[15]

Films

• Bad Boys (2013), Nao Masaki^[16]
• Ushijima the Loan Shark 3 (2016), Rina Asō^[17]

Events

• Girls Award (2012 A/W,^[4] 2013 S/S,^[18] 2015 S/S,^[19] 2016 S/S,^[20] 2016 A/W^[21])
• Tokyo Girls Collection (2015 A/W,^[22] 2016 S/S,^[23] 2016 A/W^[24])

Variety shows

• Umazuki! (Fuji TV, 5 January 2013 — present), presenter^[25]
• Bachi Bachi Elekiteru (Fuji TV, 16 April 2013 — 17 September 2013), presenter^[7]

Commercials

• Sony Music Distribution - ForTUNE Music (2013)^[26]
• L'est Rose (2013)^[27]
• Samantha Thavasa - Samantha Tiara 2013 Christmas Jewelry (2013)^[28]
• Dariya - Palty (2015)^[29]

Discography

Nogizaka46 Singles

• "Guruguru Curtain" (22 February 2012)
  • "Aitakatta Kamoshirenai"
  • "Ushinaitakunai kara"
  • "Shiroi Kumo ni Notte"
  • "Nogizaka no Uta"
• "Oide Shampoo" (2 May 2012)
  • "Kokoro no Kusuri"
  • "Gūzen o Iiwake ni Shite"
  • "House!"
• "Hashire! Bicycle" (22 August 2012)
  • "Sekkachi na Katatsumuri"
  • "Hito wa Naze Hashiru no ka"
  • "Oto ga Denai Guitar"
• "Seifuku no Mannequin" (19 December 2012)
  • "Yubi Bōenkyō"
  • "Yubi Bōenkyō: Anime version"
  • "Shibuya Blues"
• "Kimi no Na wa Kibō" (13 March 2013)
  • "Shakiism"
  • "Romantic Ikayaki"
  • "Dekopin"
• "Girl's Rule" (3 July 2013)
  • "Sekai de Ichiban Kodoku na Lover"
  • "Kōmori yo"
  • "Ningen to Iu Gakki"
• "Barette" (27 November 2013)
  • "Tsuki no Ōkisa"
  • "Watashi no Tame ni, Dareka no Tame ni"
  • "Sonna Baka na..."
• "Kizuitara Kataomoi" (2 April 2014)
  • "Romance no Start"
  • "Toiki no Method"
  • "Kodoku Kyōdai"
• "Natsu no Free & Easy" (9 July 2014)
  • "Nani mo Dekizu ni Soba ni Iru"
  • "Sono Saki no Deguchi"
• "Nandome no Aozora ka?" (8 October 2014)
  • "Korogatta Kane o Narase!"
  • "Tender days"
• "Inochi wa Utsukushii" (18 March 2015)
  • "Tachinaorichū"
• "Taiyō Nokku" (22 July 2015)
  • "Sakanatachi no LOVE SONG"
  • "Hane no Kioku"
• "Ima, Hanashitai Dareka ga Iru" (28 October 2015)
  • "Popipappapā"
  • "Kanashimi no Wasurekata"
• "Harujion ga Sakukoro" (23 March 2016)
  • "Kyūshamen"
• "Hadashi de Summer" (27 July 2016)
  • "Boku Dake no Hikari"
• "Sayonara no Imi" (9 November 2016)
  • "Kodoku na Aozora"

Bibliography

Magazines

• Larme, Tokuma Shoten 2012-, as an exclusive model since 2012^[30]
• Ray, Shufunotomo 1988-, as an exclusive model since 2013^[31]

Photobooks

• Kikan Nogizaka vol.2 Shoka (Tokyo News Service, 12 June 2014), ISBN 9784863364097^[32]
• Seijun na Otona Shiraishi Mai (Gentosha, 10 December 2014), ISBN 9784344026711^[33]
• Mai Style (Shufunotomo, 23 January 2015), ISBN 9784074020980^[12]

References

External links

• Official agency profile (Japanese)
• Official blog (Japanese)
• Mai Shiraishi at the Internet Movie Database