Kōki Inō has been selected as the new voice of Kanon Himeno in The Idolm@ster SideM franchise, replacing Ayumu Murase. The change follows Bandai Namco Entertainment’s announcement that Murase would “graduate” from the role, marking a significant transition for one of the male-idol series’ younger performers.
According to the franchise’s announcement, Inō was chosen through a series of auditions. More details about the casting decision and the handover are scheduled to be discussed during a livestream on September 1, 2026.
A New Voice for Kanon Himeno
Inō will begin handling Kanon’s role for newly announced content and merchandise released after August 28, 2026. The actor is also set to participate in the 315 Production presents F＠NTASTIC BATTLE FES ～Wanna step in～ performance, making the transition part of the franchise’s ongoing live and promotional activity rather than a change limited to future game content.
The production team currently has no plans to replace Kanon’s previously recorded audio. That approach will allow existing material to remain intact while giving Inō a clear starting point for new appearances. The announcement also notes that Murase will complete recording obligations for several projects before officially departing the role.
For long-running character franchises, a voice-actor change can be especially delicate. The actor’s performance becomes closely associated with a character’s personality, rhythm, and emotional presence, particularly in an idol series where songs, live events, drama tracks, and game dialogue all contribute to the character’s identity. Inō’s selection through auditions suggests that the team placed emphasis on finding a performer capable of continuing Kanon’s established presence while carrying the role into new material.
Where Kanon Fits in the SideM Franchise
The Idolm@ster SideM centers on male idols working at 315 Production, an agency whose name is pronounced “Saikō Production,” or “Ultimate Production.” Like other entries in The Idolm@ster series, its central concept is built around producing and supporting idols, but SideM distinguishes itself through its focus on a large cast of male performers and the relationships between its various units.
Kanon Himeno is part of that broader ensemble-driven structure. In SideM, individual characters are not isolated from the franchise’s larger performance ecosystem: their stories are connected through unit activities, agency events, songs, live concerts, merchandise, and game-based storytelling. As a result, a recasting affects more than a single appearance. It becomes part of the way the character will be presented across several forms of media.
The franchise has also continued beyond its original mobile-game format. The Idolm@ster SideM smartphone game launched in Japan in 2014 before ending service in January 2023. The Idolm@ster SideM Live on St@ge! launched in 2017 and began winding down service in January 2021, while The Idolm@ster SideM Growing Stars launched in October 2021 and ended service in July 2023.
SideM’s Expanding Media History
Although the mobile games were central to SideM’s early identity, the franchise has supported a wide range of adaptations and spin-offs. Its first anime adaptation premiered in October 2017, following a September 2017 prologue special focused on the Jupiter idol unit. Both the series and special were streamed by Crunchyroll as they aired.
SideM also inspired the short-form anime The Idolm@ster SideM Wake Atte Mini!, based on Sumeragi’s manga. The manga began in 2016 and concluded in January 2018, followed by the sequel The Idolm@ster SideM Wake Atte Mini! Returns, which ran from September 2018 to January 2019. The sequel’s single collected volume shipped in March 2019 and included a bundled anime episode.
The original manga inspired a 12-episode television anime of shorts, which premiered in October 2018. A stage play based on Growing Stars was also performed in June 2022, further demonstrating how SideM has extended its characters into live-action and performance-oriented formats.
What Fans Should Watch Next
The September 1 livestream should provide the clearest picture yet of how Inō’s version of Kanon will be introduced. At present, the confirmed plan is straightforward: previously recorded audio will remain in place, Murase will finish certain recording commitments, and Inō will take over for new content, merchandise, and the announced live performance.
That gradual approach gives the franchise room to acknowledge its history while establishing a new chapter for Kanon. For readers and viewers who follow SideM through its anime, manga, music, or event releases, the most important development will be hearing how Inō interprets the character in newly produced material. The change is a reminder that idol franchises are built not only on fictional characters, but also on the evolving performances that bring them to life.
Sources
- animenewsnetwork.com
