{"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 Kanon Himeno Role in THE IDOLM@STER SideM","summary":"Voice actor Ayumu Murase is leaving the role of Kanon Himeno in THE IDOLM@STER SideM, Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on August 18. Murase's agency, Aster Nine, said the decision came from discussions between both parties with the future of the character and the work in mind, and that the parting is amicable. Murase has voiced the character for over 10 years. Kanon Himeno is a former child model idol and a member of the kids idol unit Mofumofuen, alongside Shiro Tachibana (voiced by Keisuke Furuhata) and Nao Okamura (voiced by Shogo Yano). A new cast member will be added to support Mofumofuen, with details to be announced later. Audio already released in 315 Production episodes and other content will not be replaced for now, though some parts may be replaced in future operations. Murase will continue to provide the voice for Kanon Himeno in the MONTHLY THEME SONG 10 Mofumofuen release and in some performances within THE IDOLM@STER SideM 11th STAGE ~EVER EVER@FTER~. The replacement schedule and the new cast member will be announced at a later date.","whyItMatters":"The announcement keeps Murase attached to two specific upcoming releases while leaving the long-term replacement plan open, which means the franchise is staging the cast change rather than making a clean cut.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eMurase\u0026#39;s agency, Aster Nine, published the announcement on August 18, and the official THE IDOLM@STER account posted the cast change notice the same day.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eMurase said in a statement: \u0026#34;I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for having been involved with \u0026#39;THE IDOLM@STER SideM\u0026#39; for over 10 years and for having voiced \u0026#39;Kanon Himeno.\u0026#39;\u0026#34;\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eThe management team added: \u0026#34;We sincerely thank you for your dedication over the years, and we wholeheartedly wish for Murase\u0026#39;s continued success in the future,\u0026#34; and asked fans to \u0026#34;warmly welcome our new companion.\u0026#34;\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eTHE IDOLM@STER SideM launched in July 2014 as the first male idol production game in the series, under the concept \u0026#34;Idols with a reason!\u0026#34; Players produce idols at 315 Productions, with characters drawn from backgrounds like doctors, part-timers, and Self-Defense Force officers.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eThe franchise spans merchandise, music, live events, and radio beyond the game itself.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eThe decision was made after comprehensive consideration, and the announcement noted that no party bears responsibility, with a call to prevent the spread of misinformation or speculative interpretations.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eInside\u0026#39;s coverage included a solo version of the song \u0026#34;Okanashi na Adventure\u0026#34; and the album \u0026#34;THE IDOLM@STER SideM 49 ELEMENTS -13 Mofumofuen\u0026#34; among related merchandise.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Murase's own words: 'I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for having been involved with THE IDOLM@STER SideM for over 10 years.' The new Mofumofuen cast member is still unnamed.","twitterPost":"Existing Kanon Himeno audio in 315 Production episodes stays for now, but future operations may replace some of it. The replacement schedule and new cast come later.","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 stepping away from Kanon Himeno in THE IDOLM@STER SideM after more than a decade. Bandai Namco will add a new cast member to the Mofumofuen unit, with the name and replacement schedule still to come.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"4Gamer.net\",\"url\":\"https://www.4gamer.net/games/371/G037141/20260818015/\",\"title\":\"Ayumu Murase graduates from role of Kanon Himeno in \\\"THE IDOLM@STER SideM\\\"; one new cast member to be added to support \\\"Mofumofuen\\\"\"},{\"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 at a Later Date\"},{\"source\":\"Inside\",\"url\":\"https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2026/08/18/186364.html\",\"title\":\"Voice Actor Ayumu Murase to Gracefully Depart from 'THE IDOLM@STER SideM' Role of Kanon Himeno - 'Decision Made After Comprehensive Consideration,' New Cast to Be Announced Later\"},{\"source\":\"Anime Anime\",\"url\":\"https://animeanime.jp/article/2026/08/18/102151.html\",\"title\":\"Voice Actor Ayumu Murase to Graduate from Role of Kanon Himeno in \\\"iM@S SideM\\\"; New Cast to Be Announced Later\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":12885,"outputTokens":1587,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1787036988,"createdAt":"2026-08-18T07:00:32.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-08-18T07:01:44.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-18T09:58:30.000Z"},"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":4,"writtenSourceCount":4,"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":"written","firstSeenAt":"2026-08-18T03:48:44.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-08-18T09:31:06.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-18T09:58:30.000Z"},"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"},{"source":"Inside","url":"https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2026/08/18/186364.html","title":"声優・村瀬歩さん、『アイドルマスター SideM』姫野かのん役を“円満”卒業へー「総合的に考慮したうえでの判断」新キャストは今後発表"},{"source":"Anime Anime","url":"https://animeanime.jp/article/2026/08/18/102151.html","title":"声優・村瀬歩、「アイマスSideM」姫野かのん役を卒業へ 後任の新キャストは改めて発表"}],"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 IDOLM@STER SideM, announced on August 18, 2026.","Murase voiced Kanon Himeno for over 10 years, according to his comment in the announcement.","A new cast member will be added to support the kids idol unit Mofumofuen, with details to be announced later.","Audio already released in 315 Production episodes will not be replaced for now, but some may be replaced in future operations.","Murase will continue to voice Kanon Himeno in MONTHLY THEME SONG 10 Mofumofuen and some performances in THE IDOLM@STER SideM 11th STAGE ~EVER EVER@FTER~."]}