Anime Central 2026 marked not just the first time that The Idolmaster series has performed in North America since 2018, but also the first appearance of 765 Production. scrmbl had the opportunity to sit down with six of the series’ voice actors at the event, asking questions about the series’ past, present and future.
Some of you have been to the US for conventions before, and for some of you it’s your first time. How has it been meeting all of the fans here at Anime Central?
Minami Tsuda (voice of Miho Kohinata): This is the first time I’ve been to America with The Idolmaster. In terms of what’s different from Japan, I would say that the reactions when we did the live show were a lot more pronounced. Of course, everyone in Japan is always super hyped, but everyone here is even more so. The fact that we usually only perform in Japan means that people are really excited to see us, and that definitely comes through.
This time I was also able to do a signing session. I was a little taken aback by how many different kinds of things people brought along, including some really old stuff. I definitely got the impression that a lot of people have been supporting us from afar for a very long time.
For those fans who are experiencing The Idolmaster for the first time this weekend: what would you say is the charm of the series?
Ayaka Ohashi (Uzuki Shimamura): For me personally, I think what makes the series special is that there are lots of different unique characters across each brand. Everyone can find a character for them, and that’s great.
Each and every character also has their own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s possible for fans to support and encourage them in the Producer role.
This weekend also saw Miki Hoshii’s first ever solo performance. Did you watch it? What did you think?
Akiko Hasegawa (Miki Hoshii): Miki’s performance started right after our section, so we watched it from backstage. It made me really emotional! Even before the live started, people in the crowd started screaming ‘Miki!’ and I thought I was going to cry then and there.
This time it was just Miki performing on her own as a representative of 765 Production, but that just made me think about all of the people who’ve supported us over the years, both staff and fans alike. It felt like all of the love we’ve been lucky enough to receive over the years materialized on that stage.
The fact that The Idolmaster is loved by so many around the world really makes me want to bring other characters and other brands here to Anime Central again one day!
Last year, the Idolmaster series celebrated its 20th anniversary. Is there anything within that long history that sticks out as a particularly fond memory?
Yumi Hara (Takane Shijou): What sticks out for me is the first live concert I ever appeared at. That was in 2008, for The Idolmaster’s third anniversary, at Pacifico Yokohama. The fact that two new characters were going to be added to the game obviously wasn’t public knowledge, so it was just me and Hibiki’s voice actor Manami-chan recording in secret the whole time. We’d even drop in to each other’s recording sessions and give each other feedback!
We were both super nervous about the live. I remember that Akki [Akiko Hasegawa] and I were supposed to sing the song ‘Overmaster’ together, so we used to practice in the studio below our agency. I can still remember now how all of the nerves just went away once President Kuroi [head of rival agency 961 Production] called us out onto the stage and everyone greeted us with such enthusiasm. We were supposed to be rival characters, but everyone treated us so warmly.
To think that 15 years later, I’d be performing in Chicago… It really makes me realize just how amazing The Idolmaster truly is. I have a lot of gratitude for the amazing opportunities it’s provided me with, along with so many precious memories.
Some of you have been playing your character for over two decades. Has your impression of your character changed now in comparison to the beginning?
Asami Imai (Chihaya Kisaragi): Until recently, I really thought it had. I thought that the character I play, Chihaya Kisaragi, was someone who didn’t even need to be an idol. As long as she’s able to sing, she doesn’t need anything or anyone else. At least, that was the Chihaya at the beginning of the original game: it’s through her experiences with the Producer character, her daily life with her friends at 765 Production and Million Live, that she begins to come out of her shell little by little. Playing that was fun, honestly.
And then everything changed.
Back in January this year, Chihaya got her own solo performance at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. In preparing for that live show, I had the opportunity to go over my journey with Chihaya and retrace our steps together. I was actually worried that if I didn’t do so, I wouldn’t be able to do my best as a voice actress and perform in a way that everyone could enjoy.
That’s when I realized something: Chihaya hasn’t really changed at all. All she really wants to do is sing, to be heard, for her voice to resonate with someone. Her intentions haven’t changed; her heart has just become a little bit brighter now.
The fact that I’m still learning new things about Chihaya now, more than 20 years later, is one example of what makes The Idolmaster so special. I’d also really like it if the other voice actors could have that experience too.
At this point in the interview, pretty much everyone started crying, so there was a mad rush to find some tissues.
Finally, what’s something particularly memorable that you’ve accomplished in your time with The Idolmaster?
Ayaka Fukuhara (Rin Shibuya): Last year, The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls celebrated its 10th anniversary with a live tour. For this, I wanted to do one thing: wear the same costume as my character, Rin Shibuya, without adding or removing anything from the original design.
We’re usually given the green light as performers to change certain aspects of the original costume to reduce the amount of skin on show, but now that characters are performing as themselves in live concerts, I realized just how much more impactful it would be and how happy everyone would be if I was to wear the same thing that appears in the game.
And so I embarked on a long, long year of dieting and strength training, mainly targeting the abdomen and legs. That’s when I realized how amazing it was that Rin performed with so much of her body on show! I definitely gained a lot more respect for her, and it felt great to achieve a goal like that. Of course, I don’t think every performer should do what I did, but I’m proud of myself.
This article was translated by the author from the original Japanese as recorded on site. As a result, the content may differ from other outlets that participated in the Q&A session.
