^Looking back Mai was amazing in the fact that she got picked at that age. They all definitely must have had a professionalism to them that most kids didn't have (seeing many of them as adults cements this, they really are in their own league there). Very few of the first graders I interact with could take the pressure of being an idol. I can't help but constantly compare my own students to H!P girls and it just really shows how amazing they are.
Watching early clips it's clear Maimai was super nervous and had no idea what was going on... she's really changed a lot since then .
I guess Tsunku saw something in her. Whatever it was, he got it right. As he always does. It's amazing that out of the 15 girls that were picked, 12 remain. Especially since they were all so young at the time. I know Berryz are stopping things, but to last 10 years...