Maki Goto

Maki Goto (後藤 真希 Gotō Maki?, born September 23, 1985) is a Japanese singer, lyricist, and former actress. Born and raised in Edogawa, Tokyo, Goto began her musical career in 1999 when she joined Morning Musume as the only third generation member. Her first single with the group, "Love Machine", topped the Oricon singles charts and sold over a million copies. Goto was the lead vocalist of the group up until her graduation from the group in 2002. While still a member of Morning Musume, Goto released her debut solo single, "Ai no Bakayarō", in 2001, which topped the Oricon charts. In 2003 she released her debut album, Makking Gold 1, which debuted at number four on the Oricon album charts.

In 2007, at her G-Emotion II: How to Use Sexy concert, Goto announced that she was graduating from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello%21_Project Hello! Project]. In 2008, Goto signed with Avex Group sub-label Rhythm Zone and returned to the music scene at A-nation '08. In 2009, under the stage name '''Sweet Black feat. Maki Goto', she released her debut mini-album Sweet Black''. Goto transferred to Avex Trax in 2010 and released her second mini-album, One, which marked her official comeback as a singer.

Success in Hello! Project
In 1999, Maki Goto was selected as the only member of the 3rd generation of Morning Musume. The first single to feature Goto, "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". Until her graduation from Morning Musume she was one of the leading vocalists in most of the songs released. Post-graduation she mostly concentrated on her solo career, and occasionally on temporary [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello%21_Project Hello! Project] units such as Gomattō, Nochiura Natsumi, and Def.Diva. As time passed, she increasingly concentrated on acting in addition to singing. She also performed at the Asia Song Festival 2005 in Busan, Korea, representing 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 consisted of Natsumi Abe, Kaori Iida, Risa Niigaki and Koharu Kusumi. Their first 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 28, 2007, during the final show of her G-EmotionII: How to Use Sexy tour, Goto suddenly announced to fans that she would be graduating from Hello! Project,[1] [2] 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 to what her agency had planned.[3] 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".[4]

Goto signs with Avex
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.

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. Her blog didn't include any reference to Up-Front agency (but remained at 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, it was released to the press that Goto had signed with the record label Rhythm Zone under Avex.[5]

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. At A-nation, she performed the self-written song "Hear Me", an unreleased song (although a version of the song "Mine" was featured on her mini-album Sweet Black feat. Maki Goto), 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 minute segment hosted by Goto and Ryū as part of the popular radio show "PLATOn". The show airs from Monday to Friday and focuses on the life of women in their twenties. Reception was extremely good, as 30,000 messages were received during the first week alone.[6]

To complete the project, Mixi, the most popular networking community in Japan, opened a special space for Sweet Black,[7] and Avex launched a web-documentary on YouTube based on Goto's daily routine as a singer.[8] Promotions were met with immediate success, admittedly beyond expectations.[9]

On January 21, Goto released her first digital single with Avex, titled "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, 2009, Goto released her second digital single, titled Lady-Rise, also penned by herself. This time, Goto collaborated with Erika Sakurazawa, a Japanese Josei manga author.

On March 7, 2009, Goto modelled at Japan’s biggest fashion event, Tokyo Girls Collection.

Avex-Present
Goto released her second mini album, "One", on July 28, 2010. This album and on she had begun to use her actual name rather than her "Sweet Black" stage name.

As promotion for this release, Goto appeared on several Television shows. One particular show, Kinyoubi no Suma tachi e, aired a 2-hour special on her life and included interviews with Goto as well as a performance of one of her new songs, 華詩-hanauta-, written for her mother. This episode reached 19.3% ratings for the show, making it the most watched program of the day.

She released her Third Mini album "LOVE" on May 5, 2011.

On June 22, 2011, Maki announced on her official website that she will take an indefinite hiatus from the beginning of 2012.

While she is currently on hiatus, she had appeared in several magazines.

On March 10, 2012, Maki joined Dream Morning Musume and former band mates Aya Ishiguro and Nozomi Tsuji as special guests. Unlike Ishiguro and Tsuji, her presence was not announced and thus a surprise. She had performed a medley of Petitmoni songs as well as The Peace.

Mari Yaguchi, her former bandmate, calls her "the Kumi Koda of Hello! Project"

Personal life
Goto has a younger brother and two older sisters.

In 1996, Maki's father died from a fall while mountaineering.[10]

On October 20, 2007, Yūki Goto (後藤 祐樹?), Maki's younger brother and former member of idol group EE Jump, 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.[11] 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.[12]

On January 23, 2010 at 11 pm, Maki's mother, Tokiko Goto, fell from the 3rd story of her home in Edogawa, Tokyo. She was taken to the hospital, but died from her injuries in the early hours of January 24. Police say she was drunk and have yet to rule out suicide.[13]

She is close friends with Koda Kumi and misono

Photobooks

 * [2001.11.06] Maki Goto (後藤真希<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)
 * [2003.03.21] Maki
 * [2003.09.??] Pocket Morning Musume. <Vol. 2> (ポケットモーニング娘. 〈Vol.2〉<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?) – with Natsumi Abe, Mari Yaguchi and Kaori Iida
 * [2003.06.27] More Maki
 * [2004.04.24] Prism
 * [2004.07.23] Alo-Hello! Maki Goto (アロハロ!後藤真希<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)
 * [2005.04.26] Dear...
 * [2006.08.21] Foxy Fungo
 * [2011.11.27] Go to Natura…

Essay books

 * [2002.09.??] Maki Goto Myself (後藤真希myself<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)
 * [2002.12.??] Maki Goto Otakara Photo Book (後藤真希お宝フォト<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)
 * [2003.09.23] 99 no Maki Goto (99の後藤真希<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)
 * [2003.12.??] Maki Goto Seishun no Sokuseki (後藤真希 青春の足跡<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)
 * [2005.04.07] Maki Goto Chronicle 1999 – 2004 (19992004―後藤真希クロニクル<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)

Movies

 * [2000] Pinch Runner (ピンチランナー<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)
 * [2002] Nama Tamago (ナマタマゴ<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)
 * [2003] Seishun Bakachin Ryorijuku (青春ばかちん料理塾<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)
 * [2003] Koinu Dan no Monogatari (子犬ダンの物語<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)

Television dramas

 * [2001] Mariya (マリア<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)
 * [2002] Yanpapa (やんぱぱ<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)
 * [2002] Izu no Odoriko (伊豆の踊子<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)
 * [2003] R.P.G.
 * [2005] Yoshitsune (義経<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)
 * [2006] Matsumoto Seichō Special Yubi (松本清張スペシャル・指<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)

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!<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)
 * [2004] Sayonara no Love Song (サヨナラのLOVE SONG<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)
 * [2007] Gekidan Senior Graffiti Yokosuka Story (横須賀ストーリー<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)

Radio

 * [2003–20??] Young Town Dōyōbi (ヤングタウン土曜日<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)
 * [2003–2005] Maki Goto no Makkinkin Radio (後藤真希のマッキンキンRADIO<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?) }}
 * [2009–] J-Wave (81.3 FM) "Sweet Black Girls" (毎週月～木曜日 23:05～23:15　※「PLATOn」内<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)

Concerts

 * [2003.09.30] Maki Goto in Hello! Project 2003 Natsu (後藤真希 in Hello! Project 2003夏<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)
 * [2004.03.13] Maki Goto in Hello! Project 2004 Winter (後藤真希 in Hello! Project 2004 Winter<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)
 * [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！~<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)
 * [2004.09.28] Maki Goto in Hello! Project 2004 summer (後藤真希 in Hello! Project 2004 summer<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?)
 * [2005.07.06] Nochiura Natsumi Live "Triangle Energy" (後浦なつみライブ「TRIANGLE ENERGY」<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?) – With Nochiura Natsumi
 * [2005.10.25] Maki Goto + 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!<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?) – With Melon Kinenbi
 * [2006.04.07] Maki Goto & Aya Matsuura in Hello! Project 2006 Winter (後藤真希&松浦亜弥in Hello!Project 2006 Winter<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?) – With Aya Matsuura