Yui Imaizumi

is a Japanese actress, singer, model, and television personality. She rose to prominence as a founding member of the girl group Keyakizaka46 (now Sakurazaka46). Beyond her musical career, she entered the fashion industry, serving as a regular model for the fashion magazine Ar. After departing the group in 2018, she pursued acting and stage work, including lead roles in the series Million Joe and stage plays Azumi (2020) and Lady Snowblood (2021). She briefly stepped away from the spotlight in 2022 for health and personal reasons before returning to the entertainment industry in 2025.

Career

Early career

In 2011, Imaizumi was a member of the underground idol group Smile Gakuen (スマイル学園) under the name , also known as . She left the group in March 2012.

2015–2018: Keyakizaka46 On August 21, 2015, Imaizumi along with 22 other members were announced for the newly created idol group, Toriizaka46 (later Keyakizaka46). Imaizumi made her musical debut with Keyakizaka46's first single, "Silent Majority". She formed a duo named with Yui Kobayashi due to the fact that they share the same name and play the guitar. After debuting with the B-side on "Silent Majority", the duo continued performing after positive fan feedback. Additionally, Imaizumi made two song appearances as part of Sakamichi AKB (坂道AKB), a group made of various AKB48 and Sakamichi members. Aside from music, Imaizumi also started her modeling career, becoming a regular model for the fashion magazine Ar and published a solo photobook titled .

In April 2017, Imaizumi took a temporary leave from the group due to poor health and returned in August the same year. She took another break in December.

After the release of "Ambivalent", Imaizumi officially departed from the group on November 5, 2018, during a farewell ceremony in Kyoto, expressing her desire to pursue other forms of entertainment. She became the third member to leave the group, and the first member to leave since their musical debut.

2019–2022: Solo career and retirement In January, Imaizumi changed her management company from Sony Music Japan to Avex Group. Her first independent acting role was in the stage play . Since then, Imaizumi has been involved in many different projects. She was featured in a variety show produced by TV Asahi titled , was a regular on the MBS Radio show , starred in the 2020 movie , and performed in a stage adaptation of the manga Azumi.

On July 4, 2021, Imaizumi ended her contract with Avex and became an independent talent. She launched her official blog on September 30.

In November 2021, Imaizumi portrayed the title character in the stage adaptation of the manga Lady Snowblood and performed the theme song, which was released digitally. She continued the role in the sequel in February 2022.

In September 2022, it was announced that Imaizumi had been suffering with hearing loss. She still appeared in the stage play Saigo no Isha wa Sakura wo Miagete Kimi wo Omou that month as scheduled, although in a different role.

On October 26, Imaizumi announced her retirement from the entertainment industry, citing concerns about the media's intrusion to the private lives of her family and child. She also revealed that she had been diagnosed with mild squamous intraepithelial lesions.

2025: Return to entertainment On March 18, 2025, Shueisha Online reported that Imaizumi would return to the entertainment industry as a freelance talent, with a radio appearance scheduled on March 29. On April 28, it was announced that she had joined the talent agency 1623, LLC. The music video for her first song after her comeback, , which lyrics she also wrote, was released on April 29. On October 6, she announced that she had transferred agencies to Seju.

Personal life Imaizumi has four older brothers and is the youngest child in her family.

In January 2021, Imaizumi announced her pregnancy and upcoming marriage to then-YouTuber and rapper Mahoto Watanabe. She gave birth to a daughter on June 25, 2021. However, due to Watanabe's arrest, Imaizumi announced that she would not be registering her marriage to him and would raise her child with the help of her family.

Discography Keyakizaka46

Sakamichi AKB Year Single Song 2017"Shoot Sign" 2018"Jabaja"

Solo career Year Single 2021"Shurayuki" 2025"Ashiato" 2020 Rolling Marbles Erika Ken'ichi Ugana Lead role A Life Turned Upside Down: My Dad's an Alcoholic Fumi Tadokoro Kenji Katagiri 2022 Tyida Aki Yūji Nakamae

Television

Theater