Daisuke Sakuma, a member of Snow Man, has been cast as Hibiki Kaito, an 18-year-old legendary idol, in the 22nd Pretty Cure series, ‘You and Idol Pretty Cure’ (KimiPri). The anime airs every Sunday at 8:30 AM JST on ABC TV & TV Asahi.

About ‘You and Idol Pretty Cure’

🌟 Theme: "Because of YOU, we shine and grow stronger!"
🎤 Story: The Idol Pretty Cures use their singing, dancing, and performances to restore lost radiance to people.
🎶 Main Character: Uta Sakura, a second-year middle schooler who transforms into the legendary Cure Idol.

Who Is Hibiki Kaito?

Sakuma plays Hibiki Kaito, a world-famous idol adored by fans of all ages.
🎤 Status: On hiatus, studying music abroad
☕ Connection to Uta: Secretly visits Café Glitter, where he meets Uta and her friends

Sakuma expressed his excitement for joining the legendary Pretty Cure franchise, stating:
💬 "Pretty Cure is more than just an anime—it’s a cultural icon. I’m honored to bring a character to life in such a historic series."

Sakuma’s Experience as an Idol Influencing His Role

✨ On Portraying an 18-Year-Old Legend Idol:
"Since I’m also an idol, I channeled my own experiences into Kaito. Idols feel both distant and close to their fans, so I focused on capturing that balance. Being called a ‘Legend Idol’ at 18 means he must have incredible charisma, so I kept that in mind too!"

✨ On Learning from Fellow Voice Actors:
Sakuma sought advice from:

Toshiya Miyata (Kis-My-Ft2)
Takuma Terashima (Pretty Cure voice actor, ‘Wonderful Precure!’)
Terashima reassured him:
💬 "It’ll be a great learning experience. Just have fun with it!"

How Snow Man Helped with Voice Acting

🎤 First Time Experiencing ‘Mic Work’
In voice acting, actors switch between microphones during recording sessions, a technique Sakuma had never tried before.

💬 "At first, I didn’t know where to go. But thanks to Snow Man, where I’m always adjusting positions with eight other members, I naturally figured it out!"

Source : ORICON NEWS