Maya (NiziU): Profile, Photo, Career, and Facts

Table of Contents

Maya’s Profile

Full Name: Katsumura Maya
Native Name: 勝村摩耶
Nicknames: White swan, Cowl Chan
Birthday: Apr 08, 2002 (23 years old)
Blood type: O
Height/Weight: 159 cm (5’3") / N/A
Gender: Female
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Debut: Dec 2, 2020
Position: Lead vocalist, lead dancer
MBTI: ENFP (The Campaigner)
Birthplace: Ishikawa, Japan
Nationality: Japanese
Profession: Singer, Dancer
Languages: Japanese, Korean
Group: NiziU
Current Agency: JYP Entertainment

Maya, full name Katsumura Maya, was born on April 8, 2002, in Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. She is a Japanese singer and dancer, currently managed by JYP Entertainment. Maya is a member of the girl group NiziU, serving as a sub-vocalist and main dancer.

Early Life

Maya is the youngest child in her family and has an older brother. She attended Hoku Elementary School and Hikarino Junior High School in Hakusan City. During her school years, Maya was a member of the track and field club. To pursue her dream of becoming a trainee at YG Japan, she moved to Tokyo and underwent one year of training there. Afterwards, Maya joined JYP Entertainment and became a trainee under the company.

Career

Maya was a trainee at YG Japan from 2017 to 2018 before deciding to leave the company in search of new opportunities at JYP Entertainment in 2019. There, she underwent rigorous training focused on enhancing her dance and vocal skills while honing her personal discipline. Living independently in Tokyo, Maya spent nearly a year building a solid foundation before seeking larger opportunities.

In 2019, Maya marked a turning point in her career by participating in the audition rounds of the “Nizi Project,” a joint program by JYP Entertainment and Sony Music. During a group performance of the song “Heart Shaker,” Maya received praise from Park Jin-young for her harmonious coordination with fellow members and her ability to express gentle yet clear emotions through her gaze. Her knack for conveying feelings through subtle gestures earned her compliments from both the judges and fellow contestants.

On December 2, 2020, Maya officially debuted as a member of the 9-member J-pop girl group NiziU, making her first appearance in the “Make You Happy” MV, which later surpassed 300 million views on YouTube.

Strengths

Within the group, Maya holds the position of sub-vocalist, primarily providing background vocals and harmonies alongside the main vocalists. Although she does not frequently perform “killing parts” like Mako or Miihi, she still leaves a strong impression with her stable vocals and excellent emotional control. Maya also stands out with her delicate movements — a slight tilt of the head, a subtle glance in rhythm with the music, or a graceful wrist motion as she reaches toward the audience — signature expressions that have earned her the affectionate nickname “NiziU’s Swan.” Performances like “Step and a Step” and “Take a Picture” are often cited by fans as prime examples of her ability to tell stories through each gesture.

According to J.Y. Park — the mastermind behind the Nizi Project — Maya possesses “such captivating eye contact, expressions, and gestures that the audience becomes completely entranced.” Throughout her training, he described her expressiveness as “so theatrical and engaging that it completely draws viewers in.”

When the album LOVE LINE was released on March 31, 2025, Maya had her own Digipack version (MAYA Ver.). Although no official sales data is available, this was considered a positive sign within the fandom — reflecting recognition of her significant individual contributions to the group.

Popularity

Though not always in the media spotlight, Maya quietly builds her image as NiziU’s “silent gem” — admired for her elegant beauty.

Maya and her fellow members regularly promote products from the NiziU Live with U 2024–2025 OFFICIAL GOODS collection, further cementing their growing influence in fashion and branding. Maya’s fashion style, a blend of simple sportswear with feminine accessories, has frequently appeared in Japanese fashion magazines, establishing her as the “minimalist yet sophisticated” beauty icon of Gen Z.

Fun Facts

Nicknamed “Cowl‑chan” for her warm voice.
Fans call her “NiziU’s Swan” because of her graceful aura.
Skilled at cooking tamagoyaki (rolled omelet), famous for her catchphrase: “Welcome to Maya’s Kitchen!”
Always caring for fellow members, earning her the title “the mother of the group.”
Voted the funniest member of NiziU.
Enjoys drawing and collecting skincare cosmetics.
Appeared in Stray Kids’ MVs “God’s Menu” & “Back Door.”
Known for her signature “swan techniques” — tilting her head and glancing softly while dancing.
Admires Mako’s dancing skills and wishes she could swap talents with her.
Wants to appear on the show I Live Alone if given the chance to live independently.