{"rewrite":{"id":"r_a3933f583035dc6ccc291d95","clusterId":"c_bf525dded37ca36c3589e2c9","slug":"ayumu-murase-graduates-from-idolmaster-sidem-role-as-kanon-himeno","model":"deepseek-v4-flash:free","headline":"Ayumu Murase Graduates From Idolmaster SideM Role as Kanon Himeno","summary":"Voice actor Ayumu Murase is leaving the role of Kanon Himeno in The Idolmaster SideM, Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on August 18. Murase's personal agency, Astar Nine, confirmed the departure, describing it as an amicable decision reached through discussions between both parties with the character and the franchise's future in mind. Murase expressed gratitude for the ten years spent working on SideM and voicing Himeno. Himeno is a former child model idol and a member of the kids idol unit Mofumofuen. Bandai Namco also announced that a new cast member will join to support Mofumofuen, with details to be revealed later. Audio already released in 315 Production episodes and other content will not be replaced, though some future operations may see partial swaps. Murase will continue to voice Himeno in the monthly theme song for Mofumofuen and in certain voice or sound materials used in the 11th Stage event.","whyItMatters":"The announcement separates the character's future from the actor's, with Bandai Namco signaling a gradual transition rather than an immediate recast, a pattern that lets the franchise manage fan expectations while keeping the door open for new voices.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eBandai Namco Entertainment confirmed on August 18 that Ayumu Murase will step down from the role of Kanon Himeno in The Idolmaster SideM. The decision was made jointly with Murase\u0026#39;s agency, Astar Nine, and is described as amicable, reached with the character and the series\u0026#39; future in mind. Murase has voiced Himeno for ten years, a tenure he acknowledged in a statement of thanks.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHimeno is a former child model and part of the kids idol unit Mofumofuen. Bandai Namco announced that a new cast member will be added to support the unit, with specifics to come later. Existing audio in 315 Production episodes and other content will stay as is, but some future operations may see partial replacements. Murase will still appear in the monthly theme song for Mofumofuen and in select voice or sound materials for the 11th Stage event, which is scheduled as part of the franchise\u0026#39;s ongoing live series.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Ayumu Murase leaves Kanon Himeno after a decade on The Idolmaster SideM, but the new voice actor will join Mofumofuen, not replace him outright. The role continues, the identity shifts.","twitterPost":"Ayumu Murase exits Kanon Himeno after 10 years on The Idolmaster SideM, yet the new cast member joins Mofumofuen, not a full replacement.","threadsPost":"Ayumu Murase is leaving Kanon Himeno after ten years on The Idolmaster SideM, yet Bandai Namco frames the new cast member as joining Mofumofuen, not replacing him. Murase still voices Himeno in monthly songs and select materials, so the departure is partial, not a clean handoff.","newsletterBlurb":"Ayumu Murase is leaving the role of Kanon Himeno in The Idolmaster SideM after a decade. Bandai Namco says the split is amicable and a new cast member will join Mofumofuen, with details to come.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"4Gamer.net\",\"url\":\"https://www.4gamer.net/games/371/G037141/20260818015/\",\"title\":\"村瀬 歩さんが「アイドルマスター SideM」の「姫野かのん」役を卒業。「もふもふえん」を支えるキャストを今後新たに1名追加\"},{\"source\":\"Denfaminicogamer\",\"url\":\"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/260818q\",\"title\":\"Ayumu Murase, Voice of Kanon Himeno in 'THE IDOLM@STER SideM', to Graduate; New Cast to Be Announced Later\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":5522,"outputTokens":997,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1787036988,"createdAt":"2026-08-18T07:00:32.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-08-18T07:01:44.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-18T07:00:32.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_bf525dded37ca36c3589e2c9","canonicalTitle":"『アイドルマスター SideM』姫野かのん役・村瀬歩さんが卒業へ。新たなキャストについては後日改めて発表","representativeArticleId":"a_39475d344526fb6088a9218d","sourceCount":2,"writtenSourceCount":2,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"THE iDOLM@STER SideM\"],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[\"Ayumu Murase\"],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-08-18T03:48:44.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-08-18T04:48:18.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-18T07:01:44.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"4Gamer.net","url":"https://www.4gamer.net/games/371/G037141/20260818015/","title":"村瀬 歩さんが「アイドルマスター SideM」の「姫野かのん」役を卒業。「もふもふえん」を支えるキャストを今後新たに1名追加"},{"source":"Denfaminicogamer","url":"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/260818q","title":"『アイドルマスター SideM』姫野かのん役・村瀬歩さんが卒業へ。新たなキャストについては後日改めて発表"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["THE iDOLM@STER SideM"],"studios":[],"people":["Ayumu Murase"],"type":"news","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Ayumu Murase is graduating from the role of Kanon Himeno in The Idolmaster SideM, announced on August 18, 2026.","Murase voiced Himeno for ten years, according to his statement.","Bandai Namco Entertainment will add one new cast member to support the kids idol unit Mofumofuen, with details to be announced later.","Audio already released in 315 Production episodes will not be replaced, but some future operations may see partial swaps.","Murase will continue to voice Himeno in the monthly theme song for Mofumofuen and in certain voice materials for the 11th Stage event."]}