Maeda Ai, a renowned Japanese actress, was born on October 4th, 1983, in Tokyo. She began her acting career at a tender age, debuting in a McDonald's commercial at ten years old alongside her younger sister Aki, who would also follow in her footsteps in the entertainment industry. Maeda's early start in advertising led to her transition into on-camera and voice acting, marking the beginning of a successful and varied career.
As a child actress, Maeda appeared in numerous commercials, including one for Appare Sanma Dai Sensei, where she played the role of a schoolgirl. Her early success caught the attention of talent agencies, and she eventually signed with Crayon, later changing to Granpapa in 1997. That same year, she became a member of the pop group Pretty Chat, releasing the video and single "Wake Up Girls," which unfortunately remained the group's only record.
Maeda's musical endeavors continued, as she collaborated with her sister on the song "Don't Cry" in 1998. She continued to model, often alongside her sister, until the age of sixteen, when she shifted her focus to feature-length films. In 2000, she moved to Vancouver, Canada, to study English for nearly a year before returning to Japan and graduating from Tokyo-based Aoyama Gakuin University.
In her personal life, Maeda married actor Nakamura Kankuroo in October 2009, after meeting him on the set of Hikari No Teikoku at the age of 17. Despite initial reservations about marriage, she eventually came to appreciate its benefits, particularly after experiencing familial and personal struggles. The couple has two sons, born in 2011 and 2013, who have both appeared on the kabuki stage.
Maeda is also a skilled pianist and has published nine photo books to date. She should not be confused with the voice actress sharing her name, although she has also explored voice acting in her career. Throughout her life, Maeda has remained dedicated to her craft, consistently pushing herself to new heights and exploring various roles and mediums.
