Bandai Namco Entertainment has announced that voice actor Ayumu Murase is stepping down from his role as Kanon Himeno in the long-running The Idolmaster SideM franchise. Murase, who has voiced the character as part of the idol unit Mofumofuen, will conclude his tenure following the completion of a few remaining project obligations.
Regarding the transition, the company stated that there are currently no plans to replace existing audio featuring Murase’s voice, though they noted this policy could be subject to change in the future. A successor to take over the role of Kanon Himeno will be revealed at a later date.
This change comes as the franchise continues to manage its legacy following the closure of several mobile titles, including the 2021 release The Idolmaster SideM Growing Stars and the original 2014 smartphone game. Despite the cessation of these services, the franchise remains a significant pillar of the idol genre, having expanded into stage plays, manga like The Idolmaster SideM Wake Atte Mini!, and various television anime adaptations that have been staples on platforms like Crunchyroll.
