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Goto Maki (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 Goto originally made her debut in 1999 as part of Hello!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 avex trax.

Goto 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 four albums, as well as a number of singles. 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. [1] 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.

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.

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.

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.

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