Profile Member: Mariko Shinoda

Mariko Shinoda (篠田 麻里子 Shinoda Mariko^?, born March 11, 1986 in Maebaru, Fukuoka, Japan) is a singer, actress, fashion model, and one of members of the Japanese Idol group AKB48

Life and career

In October 2005 she failed an audition to be one of founding members of AKB48. She started working at a café in then-Akihabara 48 Theater (renamed and currently known as the "AKB48 Theater") as a staff member. Although she was not a member of AKB48, she won a popularity contest voted on by fans visiting the theater. Hearing that, Yasushi Akimoto, General Producer of AKB48, came to her and gave her conditional permission to join AKB48 if she could remember and perform all 12 songs and choreographies performed at the theater in 4 days. She did nothing but practice for next 4 days and made her debut on January 22, 2006.
She is part of the "Senbatsu" group in the most singles released as AKB48, since AKB48's 1st single under major label, "Aitakatta".
From March 30, 2011, she started hosting a show with her own name, "Mariko-sama no Orikou sama" (麻里子様のおりこうさま!^?) on NHK.

Mariko Shinoda