MAX is an all-girl Japanese vocal & dance group active since 1995!
The group was started by Namie Amuro's 4 backup dancers from the Super Monkeys. All members hail from Okinawa.
MAX enjoyed stardom in the 90s, with releases such as MAXIMUM, Give me a shake, Ride on time, and Issho ni.
They underwent a lineup change from 2002-2008, with new member Aki replacing Mina following her pregnancy. Aside from those 6 years though, the group has retained its original lineup for almost 30 years!
This website was made to introduce more people to MAX since they haven't been relevant in like 20 years, even though they could very well compete with modern K-Pop groups.
Plus I think it's phenomenal for a girl group from Japan to remain active well into the members' 40s! They're even going for a guinness record for their longevity.
Real name: Nanako Takushi (沢詩奈々子)
Birthday: March 25 1976
Birthplace: Okinawa, Japan
Zodiac sign: Aries
Blood type: A
Height: 159.5cm
Weight: 43kg
Marital status: Married dancer CHINO in 2016
Children: 1 son
What she loves about herself: Her eyes and lips
What she dislikes about herself: Her head
Hobbies: Watching movies and performing alongside the cast, riding her bike, walking
Specializes in: Aerobic exercise, traditional Japanese calligraphy, arts and crafts, speaking English, rhythmic gymnastics ribbon exercise
Things that she can't do: Cooking and sewing
Favourite foods: Italian pasta, steamboat, tomato, katsudon, sushi, egg dishes, bread
Least favorite foods: Natto (fermented beans), beans (in general)
Favorite colors: Black, white, red
Favourite artists/singers: None
Favourite word/phrase: Dream
Her fashion selection: Simple and high class
Person she respects the most: MAX's boss, Tetsuo Taira
Spirit animal: Cat
Ways to spend time alone in her room: Watching movies, listening to music
Way to relieve stress: Watches Movies
Driving license: Obtained in 1999
Her ambition: To become successful singer
Way to relieve tension: Watching movies
Her makeup focus: Her face
Pet: She's afraid of animals, but she owned a turtle named Buga at some point
Things that she will bring with her during vacation: Pictures of her friends and a CD player
Musical instrument played: Saxophone
Challenge in music that she want to face: Lyrics writing and playing the saxophone
Average sleep duration: 6 hours
Things that she always bought with her: Cellphone
If she could change something about herself, she would: Grow taller
Nana's been MAX's leader for most of its lifespan! She's also widely thought of as the best dancer among the members (she even participated in a dance competition show once). Vocals-wise, she was mostly a backup singer during the group's stardom, but for the past 20 years she's taken on a heavier singing role. She has a cheerful and open personality and she's always been the one who speaks the most on talk shows or on their youtube channel. She often pokes fun at the other members, and especially Lina. She considers herself someone who wants to be babied, but also a challenger who has too many things she wants to do at once at the same time. She’s the fastest to back out when there’s trouble.
Social media: Twitter, Ameblo
Real name: Reina Miyauchi (宮内玲奈)
Birthday: January 6 1978
Birthplace: Okinawa, Japan
Zodiac: Capricorn
Blood Type: AB
Height: 157cm
Weight: 43kg
Marital status: Married in 2011
Children: 3 (2 sons, 1 daughter)
What she loves about herself: The mole beneath her right eye
What she dislikes about herself: Too short
Hobbies: House cleaning, cooking (including shopping for groceries), baking cakes, playing mahjong, shopping, collecting hats and records, car modding, playing sports with her kids
Specializes in: Drawing comics, playing guitar, shopping for sneakers
Her fashion selection: Sporty and casual; but also fancy casual
Driving license: Obtained in Summer 1997 alongside Mina
Favourite foods: Honey dew, pasta, sushi, meat, baked food
Least favorite foods: Green peas, eggplants, vegetables
Favorite colors: Black, white, red, yellow, blue
Favourite word/phrase: In life there are good times and bad times
Things that she can't do: Horror-related things
Person she respects the most: Her father
Her spirit animal: Sea Otter
Favourite artists/singers: Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey
Her ambition: Getting married when she was 16, and getting married before 18 (her wish when she was young, definitely not her ambition)
Ways to spend time alone in her room: Reading manga, sleeping, playing games
Way to relieve tension: Keep on laughing
Her make up focus: Her mole
Pet: Romeo and Emma (miniature dachshunds; probably deceased), Gerbil/hamster (can't tell)
Things that she will bring during vacation: CD player, MAX's schedule list, medicine
Musical instrument played: Guitar
Challenge in music that she wants to face: Playing guitar, writing lyrics and composing songs
Average sleep duration: 4 ~ 5 hours
Things that she always brings with her: None
If she could change a part of herself, she would: Grow taller to 170cm
Reina is my favorite MAX member! She's the lead vocalist of the group alongside Mina. She's renowned among fans for her sugary (at least to me) and passionate timbre. She particularly shines in ballads, such as POWDER SHADOW. Personality-wise, Reina is the toughest and most hostile member of the group, having been a notorious troublemaker alongside Lina in the early days of MAX. She's the member who used the harshest words when appearing on TV. Regardless, her aggressiveness seems to have cooled down a little in recent years, particularly upon entering motherhood. Besides her rough side, Reina has a playful, bubbly and approachable quality to her, which shows through in most situations. Like Nana, Reina considers herself a challenger day-by-day. She is also the biggest drinker in the group, being a big fan of beer, champagne and lemon sour, as stated in her QandA on MAX's youtube channel.
Social media: Instagram, Ameblo
Real name: Ritsuko Matsuda (松田律子)
Birthday: February 26 1977
Birthplace: Okinawa, Japan
Zodiac: Pisces
Blood Type: O
Height: 159.2cm
Weight: 46kg
Marital status: Single
Children: None
What she loves about herself: Her dimples
What she dislikes about herself: Her thighs
Hobbies: Speaking/learning English, ice skating, drawing, collecting perfumes, knitting, pole dancing, walking on stilts
Specializes in: Playing the drums, yoyo, pole dancing
Her fashion selection: daring (sexy) but stylish
Driving license: Obtained in 1999 (after 6 tries!)
Favourite foods: Strawberry and anything that has strawberry in it, enoki mushrooms, hamburgers
Least favorite foods: Shellfish, vegetables
Favorite colors: Black, white, red, brown
Favourite word/phrase: Laugh/smile
Things that she can't do: None (But she can't really stand cockroaches)
Person she respects the most: Her mother
Her spirit animal: Fox
Favourite artists/singers: Janet Jackson, TLC
Her ambition: To be a singer
Ways to spend time alone in her room: Listening to music, playing with Seleb
Way to relieve tension: Going out
Her make up focus: Her eye lashes
Pet: Puppy-chan (dog; probably deceased), Latte (toy poodle; probably deceased), Seleb (dog)
Things that she will bring during vacation: Clothes and other accessories
Musical instrument played: Drums
Challenge in music that she wants to face: Playing the drums
Average sleep duration: 5 ~ 6 hours
Things that she always brings with her: Cellphone, handkerchief and English dictionary
If she could change a part of herself, she would: Reduce her bone structure, because she thinks it's too big
Lina mainly assumes a dancer role in the group, although in recent years she's been more active as a singer within MAX, like Nana. Her unique boisterous dancing style is very characteristic, and she's the top 2nd pick for the best dancer among MAX! Lina has many characteristic traits about her in general, as she has a sweet yet bold personality; ever since she was a child she's been very expressive, she always does anything she sets her mind to, often ending up as the center of attention as a result. It never deterred her, though. She is a very curious individual who loves to discover and try new things, as proven by her diverse list of hobbies. Lina also finds happiness in others' happiness as she usually lets others win things in her place. Despite being Nana's main bullying victim, she can retaliate quite well with her own expertise in pranks and deception.
Social media: Instagram, Ameblo
Real name: Minako Inoue, née Ameku (井上美奈子/天久美奈子)
Birthday: December 29 1977
Birthplace: Okinawa, Japan
Zodiac: Capricorn
Blood Type: A
Height: 154cm
Weight: 43kg
Marital Status: Married a concert staff member in 2002
Children: 2 (1 son, 1 daughter)
What she loves about herself: Her eyes and eyebrows
What she dislikes about herself: Her front teeth
Hobbies: Playing video games, playing mahjong, going on vacation, driving, observing other people, DIY carpentry, astrology
Specializes in: Working, fixing wires, swimming, tap dancing
Her fashion selection: Chic
Driving license: Obtained in Summer 1997 alongside Reina
Favourite foods: Natto (fermented beans), bitter gourd, dried prunes, tofu and vegetarian noodles
Least favorite foods: Tomatoes, celery, watermelon, radishes
Favorite colors: All shades of blue
Favourite word/phrase: None
Things that she can't do: Staying in dark places
Person she respects the most: Her mother
Her spirit animal: Rabbit
Favourite artists/singers: Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey
Her ambition: To do nursing work (because her aunt is a nurse)
Ways to spend time alone in her room: Laying around
Way to relieve tension: Karaoke
Her make up concentration: Her eyebrows, her eyes
Pet: Kojiro and Komugi (malteses; probably deceased), Niki(Naiki?) and Pipo (pheasant cats; probably deceased)
Things that she will bring during vacation: Cellphone, charger, shampoo, conditioner and shower gel
Musical instrument played: Guitar
Challenge in music that she wants to face: Playing guitar, bass guitar and drums
Average sleeping duration: 5 ~ 6 hours
Things that she always brings with her: Cellphone and makeup box
If she could change a part of herself, she would: Change nothing
Mina is MAX's lead vocalist alongside Reina. She was the group's leader for 3 years from January 1999 to February 2002, and for the span of a year she was also the group's only lead vocalist, with Reina reduced to primarily a backup singer. Her signature rough and thick vocals made her the most popular member of MAX in its early days! Despite that, Mina is the most timid member in MAX. She's regarded as the brain of the group due to her skill with electronics and mahjong, as well as her love for knowledge and exploration, as seen by her vacationing and peoplewatching hobbies. She also struggled with perfectionism in the earlier days of MAX and has been speaking up about her experience with it in recent years, referring to her mother's words of encouragement after her pregnancy as what helped her break free from that toxic mindset.
Social media: Instagram
Real name: Aki Maeda (前田亜紀)
Birthday: October 22 1980
Zodiac: Libra
Blood type: O
Birthplace: Okinawa, Japan
Height: 163.5cm
Marital Status: Divorced
Children: 2
Hobbies: Songwriting
Specializes in: Advertising, dancing
Pet: None; would like to own a dog, a cat or a monkey someday
Aki was Mina's replacement member, and as such, was the lead vocalist alongside Reina. Her sweet, versatile voice and her resounding vibrato made her a very characteristic addition to the group. Sadly, as Aki suffered the luck of belonging to the worst documented era of MAX, I wasn't able to find much information about her. However, based on her TV appearances and such, Aki seems to be a sweet and timid yet expressive individual who radiates positivity even when she's not speaking.
Social media: Twitter, Twitter (inactive), Ameblo (inactive)