Maki Goto

I. Introduction

Maki Goto (後藤真希) is an Japanese urban pop singer, currently signed to avex trax. Goto originally made her debut in 1999 as part of Hello! Project, and as the only third generation member of Morning Musume. She has sold over 1,576,761 copies in Japan alone being the second best-selling solo artist in Hello! Project. Early in Summer 2008, Goto left Hello! Project and moved to the rhythm zone label. In 2010 she transferred to the main label: avex trax.

II. Career and Life

III. Hello! Project Beginnings

Maki joined Morning Musume when she was just 13 years old and became almost an instant favorite, helping them reach number one with the song LOVE Machine. She soon established herself as a talented singer and dancer and took the lead on a large number of Morning Musume tracks.

In 2002 she graduated from Morning Musume to pursue a solo career and has since released six full length albums, as well as a number of singles and mini albums. She was also in the Morning Musume ten year anniversary group, Morning Musume Tanjou 10nen Kinentai. On October 28, 2007, Nikkan Sports reported that her graduation from Hello! Project had been announced by UFA and took place on the last date of her 2007 Fall tour. According to the article, her graduation is in response to her brother, Goto Yuuki's arrest, as well as different ideas in the direction of her singing career.

IIII. Moving to Avex as a Soloist

Early in Summer 2008, Goto signed up with rhythm zone sub-label of avex trax. She performed Hear me at a-nation 2008 (a song that would later be re-released as Mine with KEN THE 360 on her debut mini-album) and Whitney Houston's Saving All My Love for You. Goto proceeded to release digital singles and PVs for new songs Fly Away, Lady-Rise, and with... as part of her SWEET BLACK Project. Fly Away was the first song Goto had written the lyrics to herself. Digitally, these singles fared extremely well. Goto collaborated with ravex to release Golden LUV feat. Goto Maki - it was Goto's first time collaborating with anyone.

While with avex, Goto got the chance to participate in the TOKYO GIRLS COLLECTION Fashion Show.

The year 2009 saw the release of her physical debut with the album SWEET BLACK, listed under the artist known as SWEET BLACK Feat. Goto Maki, though the songs were actually written and performed by Goto herself. The mini-album had 8 tracks, and featured many collaborations with artists such as Bigga Raiji, KG, and KEN THE 360. A limited version release of the album was sold with a 64-page photobook as well as a hand-drawn cover. With this mini-album under her belt, Goto performed at various events including the SPLASH Festival 2009 and a-nation 2009. She has stated in an interview that following her run as SWEET BLACK feat. Goto Maki, she will start to release under her proper name.

IIIII. Times of Tragedy and Return to the Industry

In early 2010, Goto witnessed the death of her mother, Goto Tokiko, in their home in Edogawa, Tokyo. Her death was apparently caused by a fatal fall from the third story of their house while Tokiko was under the influence of alcohol on the 23rd of January. Goto herself found her at around 11 PM, and she was rushed to the hospital before passing away on the 24th. A funeral service was held on the 28th, attended by Goto and several former Hello! Project members.

After a brief hiatus, Goto returned to the music scene announcing her official debut (as opposed to her collaboration with SWEET BLACK, Goto's works from this point forward would bear only her name). The mini-album "ONE", released on July 28th, features five new songs all under the name of 'Goto Maki'. Goto put on a mini-live, which was recorded and streamed live online, in which she discussed the album and performed three songs.

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

She came back in 2014, promoting the game Monster Hunter. In April she opened her Blog. In July, she married a non celebrity. She gave birth to a girl on December 7, 2015. At Halloween 2016, she announced on her Blog, that she's 5 month pregnant. On March 25, she gave birth to a boy. In April 2020, she started 2 Youtube Channels. One for Lifestyle Topics and the other one for Gaming.

IIIV. Domestic Violence Concerns

In 2019, it was revealed that Maki Goto had an extramarital affair with an old friend, with whom she'd meet in secret at hotels out of distress with her marriage. Her husband attempted to sue the friend, after he publicly claimed that Maki's marriage was on its way to collapse and that there had been extreme domestic abuse. Maki publicly admitted to the affair on her blog, but claimed that the alleged domestic abuse was overexaggerated and "not that bad". She chose to remain with her husband and claims they are working hard to restore their marriage. Fans since have still shown concern as Goto has been known to disappear for months and sometimes years at a time from the public eye since being married. During this time, all of her old discography prior to 2020 would be made unavailable on Spotify and Apple Music outside of Japan, although it is still available on Youtube Music.

IIV. Debut as a V-Tuber

To celebrate her 25th anniversary in the industry, Maki, announced on YouTube that she will officially debut as a VTuber named "V GOTOMAKI." The character design for V GOTOMAKI is a 15-year-old girl who traveled from 2001 to the present through a wormhole after being sucked in by a flip phone.

In the teaser announcement video, V GOTOMAKI expresses her delight and relief to Maki Goto, saying "So it looks like I did well for myself!” Many fans, seeing the new VTuber who is the 15-year-old version of Maki, began to reminisce about the real Maki's time as an idol girl group member (2001 was her last year in Morning Musume) and expressed a sense of warm nostalgia. Maki has actually entered the VTuber's world before and collaborated with hololive. She even followed members such as "PP" Amane Kanata, "Tiger Orca" Sakamata Chloe, and "61 Sister" Lui Takane after their collaboration, leading fans to jokingly say that she has fallen into the VTuber rabbit hole.

As of December 2024, her Hello! Project Solo songs and albums were uploaded to streaming platforms. Her avex trax earlier albums and singles prior to prAyer are still only available on Youtube Music.

III. Discography

IIII. Albums

[2003.02.05] Makking GOLD 1 (マッキングGOLD①)

[2004.01.28] 2 Paint It Gold (②ペイント イット ゴールド)

[2005.02.23] 3rd Station (3rd ステーション)

[2007.09.19] How to use SEXY

[2011.11.02] Ai Kotoba (VOICE) (愛言葉)

IIIII. Mini-Albums

[2009.09.16] SWEET BLACK (SWEET BLACK feat. MAKI GOTO)

[2010.07.28] ONE

[2011.01.12] Gloria

[2011.05.04] LOVE

[2024.09.04] prAyer

IIIIII. Cover Albums

[2022.11.02] Songs of You and Me!

IIIIV. Best Albums

[2004.10.03] 2004 Nendo Hawaii Genteiban Single Best (2004年度 ハワイ限定盤 シングル・ベスト)

[2005.12.14] Goto Maki Premium Best 1 (後藤真希 プレミアムベスト 1)

[2005.12.21] 2005 Nendo Hawaii Genteiban Single Best (2005年度 ハワイ限定盤 シングル・ベス)

[2010.09.22] Goto Maki COMPLETE BEST ALBUM 2001-2007 ~Singles & Rare Tracks~ (後藤真希 COMPLETE BEST ALBUM 2001-2007 ～Singles & Rare Tracks～)

IIIV. Singles

[2001.03.28] Ai no Bakayarou (愛のバカやろう)

[2001.09.19] Afurechau... BE IN LOVE (溢れちゃう... BE IN LOVE)

[2002.05.09] Te wo Nigitte Arukitai (手を握って歩きたい)

[2002.08.21] Yaruki! IT'S EASY (やる気! IT'S EASY)

[2002.12.18] Sans Toi Ma Mie / Kimi to Itsumademo (サン・トワ・マミー / 君といつまでも)

[2003.03.19] Uwasa no SEXY GUY (うわさの SEXY GUY)

[2003.06.18] Scramble (スクランブル)

[2003.08.27] Daite yo! PLEASE GO ON (抱いてよ! PLEASE GO ON)

[2003.11.27] Genshoku GAL Hade ni Yukube! (原色 GAL 派手に行くべ!)

[2004.03.17] Sayonara no LOVE SONG (サヨナラの LOVE SONG)

[2004.07.07] Yokohama Shinkirou (横浜蜃気楼)

[2004.11.17] Sayonara "Tomodachi ni wa Naritakunai no" (さよなら「友達にはなりたくないの」)

[2005.07.06] Suppin to Namida. (スッピンと涙。)

[2006.01.25] Ima ni Kitto... In My LIFE (今にきっと... In My LIFE)

[2006.06.07] Glass no Pumps (ガラスのパンプス)

[2006.10.11] SOME BOYS! TOUCH

[2007.04.11] Secret

IIIVI. Split Singles

[2011.10.19] Non stop Love Yoroshiku!! (Non stop love 夜露死苦!!) (Ayanocozey Show <Ai Ai Gasa> Goto Maki)

IIIVII. Digital Singles

[2009.01.21] Fly away (SWEET BLACK feat. MAKI GOTO)

[2009.02.25] Lady-Rise (SWEET BLACK feat. MAKI GOTO)

[2009.04.27] with... (SWEET BLACK feat. MAKI GOTO)

[2010.10.10] Koi Hitoyo (恋一夜)

[2011.07.20] What Is LOVE / SCANDALOUS

[2024.07.31] CLAP CLAP

IV. DVD Releases

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

[2003.12.10] Goto Maki Single V Clips 1

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

[2004.08.04] Alo Hello! Goto Maki DVD

[2004.09.15] Goto Maki Concert Tour 2004 Haru ~Makkiniro 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~

[2006.03.29] Alo Hello! 2 Goto Maki DVD

[2006.07.05] Hello Pro Party! 2006 ~Goto Maki Captain Kouen~ (Goto Maki, Tsuji Nozomi, v-u-den)

[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!" (Goto Maki, Melon Kinenbi)

[2007.11.28] Goto Maki LIVE TOUR 2007 G-Emotion II ~How to use SEXY~

[2012.03.07] G-Emotion FINAL ~for you~

V. Filmography

VI. 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)

VII. 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)

VIII. Stage Plays

[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)

VIV. TV Commercials

[2013] Monster Hunter

VI. Radio Shows

[2003] 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-Present] SWEET BLACK Girls

VII. Publications

VIII. 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

[2011.11.27] go to natural…

VIIII. 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)

VIIIII. Pamphlets

[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 Nuccha e!~ (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 Kayou Shoo 05 Serekushon! Korekushon! (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 Matsuura Aya)