TV-Series
Description
Mayu Shimada, nicknamed Mayushi, is the main protagonist of Wake Up, Girls! New Chapter. She was born on November 7, 1997, and stands 159 centimeters tall with a weight of 46 kilograms. Blood type is O. As a first-year high school student, she possesses exceptional natural talent in singing and dancing, unrivaled among her peers. Originally the first center girl of the national idol group I-1 Club, her career was derailed after she defended a friend who had been expelled for breaking the group's strict rules. She openly argued with the general manager, asserting that idols are human first. In response, she was given an ultimatum: if her concurrent single sold fewer copies than a rival one featuring a new center, she would be fired. When her sales fell short, she was forced out of I-1 Club, followed by a series of apparently fabricated scandals. Around the same time, her parents divorced, and she moved to Sendai to live with her mother. Scarred by these experiences, she initially became withdrawn and uncertain about continuing as an idol, despite still loving to sing and dance.
She was eventually discovered in Sendai by manager Matsuda and reluctantly scouted for the newly formed Wake Up, Girls! group. After realizing that she could not give up performing and wanted to find her own happiness, she joined without auditioning, becoming the last of the seven original members. In the group, she serves as the center, mirroring her former role in I-1 Club. Mayu is a kind-hearted person with a strong sense of justice; she dislikes any situation she feels is unfair, whether within the group or in her family. She also avoids conflict and prefers harmony. Her best friend is Airi Hayashida, whom she supports throughout the group's training and activities. By the time of Wake Up, Girls! New Chapter, Mayu has grown to 18 years old, making her the oldest member of the group. Prior to fully devoting herself to Wake Up, Girls!, she worked various part-time jobs. In this new series, she is cast in a drama alongside Shiho Iwasaki, another former center of I-1 Club, allowing the two to deepen their understanding of each other. Her key relationship with Shiho develops as they both come to terms with their shared past. Throughout the story, Mayu confronts the lingering trauma from her time in I-1 Club and gradually rebuilds her confidence. Her notable abilities remain her exceptional singing and dancing skills, which are central to her role as the emotional and performance anchor of Wake Up, Girls!.
She was eventually discovered in Sendai by manager Matsuda and reluctantly scouted for the newly formed Wake Up, Girls! group. After realizing that she could not give up performing and wanted to find her own happiness, she joined without auditioning, becoming the last of the seven original members. In the group, she serves as the center, mirroring her former role in I-1 Club. Mayu is a kind-hearted person with a strong sense of justice; she dislikes any situation she feels is unfair, whether within the group or in her family. She also avoids conflict and prefers harmony. Her best friend is Airi Hayashida, whom she supports throughout the group's training and activities. By the time of Wake Up, Girls! New Chapter, Mayu has grown to 18 years old, making her the oldest member of the group. Prior to fully devoting herself to Wake Up, Girls!, she worked various part-time jobs. In this new series, she is cast in a drama alongside Shiho Iwasaki, another former center of I-1 Club, allowing the two to deepen their understanding of each other. Her key relationship with Shiho develops as they both come to terms with their shared past. Throughout the story, Mayu confronts the lingering trauma from her time in I-1 Club and gradually rebuilds her confidence. Her notable abilities remain her exceptional singing and dancing skills, which are central to her role as the emotional and performance anchor of Wake Up, Girls!.