Yaguchi Mari

Mari Yaguchi 矢口真里
Mari Yaguchi in October 2009.
Born	Mari Yaguchi (1983-01-20) January 20, 1983 (age 34) Izumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Other names	Marippe, Yaguchan, Yaguttsan
Occupation	singer actress television host
Height	1.45 m (4 ft 9 in)
Spouse(s)	Masaya Nakamura (m. 2011; div. 2013)
Musical career
Genres	J-pop
Years active	1998-present
Labels	Zetima hachama
Associated acts	Morning Musume (1998–2005) ZYX ROMANS Tanpopo Minimoni Morning Musume Sakuragumi Hello! Project shuffle units Dream Morning Musume

Mari Yaguchi (矢口真里, Yaguchi Mari) (born January 20, 1983) is a Japanese pop artist, actress and TV personality and former member of Hello! Project. She is a former member of Japanese idol group Morning Musume and various sub-groups and spin-offs, becoming the leader of both Morning Musume Sakuragumi and ZYX.

Yaguchi became a member of Japanese idol band Morning Musume during the second generation auditions in 1998. In her early years in the group, Yaguchi was often perceived as being "the short one," as she did not stand out a lot. However, by the time 4th generation members joined, she had become one of the most active members of the group. Her famous catchphrase is "Sexy Beam!," one of her solo lines from Morning Musume's "Koi no Dance Site" single, and she was asked jokingly in "Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari," "When will your real sexy beam come out?" The "Sexy Beam!" line has made its way around fans and fellow musicians alike. When she resigned from Morning Musume, she was the last member to have joined before the year 2000 (Kaori Iida had left nearly two months earlier).

Yaguchi resigned from the band suddenly in April 2005. Her stated reason was a desire to move on "as an adult" with her career. Yaguchi's TV show Yaguchi Hitori (やぐちひとり) continued as before, and she began to focus on Japanese variety shows rather than on a singing career.

Her first post-Morning Musume recording, "Nigiyaka na Fuyu," a collaboration with Berryz Kobo, appears as the coupling track on Berryz Kobo's November 2005 single "Gag 100kaibun Aishite Kudasai."

Yaguchi starred in the Japanese drama series Sentō no Musume!? (銭湯の娘!?, "Daughter of the Public Bathhouse!?") along with fellow Hello! Project member Mai Hagiwara. Yaguchi was also one of the main actors in the Japanese daytime drama series Gal Circle (ギャルサー, Garusaa). She co-hosted her show Yaguchi Hitori, and did MCing for Hello! Project concerts. From May 25, 2007 to June 6, 2007, Yaguchi performed in Damn Yankees, a popular 1955 Broadway musical, at the Tokyo Aoyama Theater.