The The Idolmaster SideM franchise has officially announced its new voice talent for the youthful idol Kanon Himeno. Following the amicable departure of Ayumu Murase from the role, newcomer Koki Ino is stepping in to breathe life into the member of the kids idol unit Mofumofuen.
Originating as the groundbreaking male-centric entry in Bandai Namco's massive multimedia franchise, The Idolmaster SideM launched back in July 2014 under the thematic banner of Idols with a Reason. Players step into the shoes of producers at 315 Production, guiding former doctors, freetimers, and members of the Self-Defense Forces toward stardom. Kanon Himeno, a former child actor sharing the stage with Shiro Tachibana and Nao Okamura in Mofumofuen, has remained a beloved fixture of this expansive musical universe.
Following an extensive audition process, management confirmed that Ino will take over the character starting with a special debut livestream scheduled for September 1, 2026. The announcement drew an immediate wave of enthusiastic support across social media from both the dedicated producer fanbase and seasoned industry veterans alike.
Industry colleagues wasted no time rolling out the welcome mat. Shinnosuke Tachibana, head of Ino's agency BLACK SHIP, posted a personal endorsement encouraging fans to support the newcomer. Meanwhile, franchise staples such as Tomokazu Sugita, Asami Imai, Shogo Yano, Takeru Kanou, and Shugo Nakamura shared warm messages welcoming Ino to the 315 Production family as preparations ramp up for his upcoming broadcast appearance.
