Yū Wakui

Yū Wakui was born on 24 January 1995 and grew up in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.[1] She enjoys Japanese calligraphy, playing the piano and flute, and performing classical ballet.[2] She took lessons in classical ballet from a young age, which helped create an interest in theatre and performance.[1][3]

Wakui wanted to work in the performing arts, so she researched various theatrical companies and training schools while in high school before settling on Himawari Theatre Group because they offered full-time training courses. To balance her high school and theatre studies, she commuted between Tochigi and Tokyo until she graduated, at which point she switched to theatrical studies full time.[1]

She enjoyed anime and voice acting, so she started working as a voice actor to challenge herself.[3] Her debut voice role was in 2014 as Sumire Hikami, one of the main characters in seasons 3 and 4 of the Aikatsu! television series as well as the sequel series Aikatsu Stars! (2018) and the hybrid live-action and animated Aikatsu on Parade! (2019).[4] Aikatsu! The Movie was released in 2014, with three more animated Aikatsu! films in 2015, 2016, and 2022, as well as three Aikatsu! video games in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

In 2016, Wakui voiced Yōko Nishikawa, one of the protagonists in the anime television series Three Leaves, Three Colors.[5] As part of that series, a Clover Kakumation music album was released in April that year featuring singing by Wakui, Mai Kanazawa, and Ayaka Imamura. It debuted on the Oricon charts at #40 and remained on the chart for nine weeks.[6] A second music album, Gūchoki Parade, debuted the same month at #46 and remained on the chart for five weeks.[7] In a 2017 Nissin Cup Noodle commercial, she played a younger Sazae Fuguta as part of the "Hungry Days" advertising series.[8]

From her debut in 2014 until the end of October 2022, Wakui was represented by Himawari Theatre Group.[9] She was a free agent until 12 January 2023, when she signed with the Mitt Management talent agency.[10]

Wakui was announced in February 2022 for the lead role of Shiori Goshiki (opposite Taku Yashiro as Ichiro Kuga) in the anime adaptation of A Galaxy Next Door.[11] The series begain airing in April 2023.[12][13]

Beginning in 2020, she played the role of Toru Asakura in The Idolmaster Shiny Colors series of idol star video games.[14] Several tie-in music albums featuring characters from the games were released for the series, most of them charting high on the Oricon charts. The first three Idolmaster Shiny Colors albums all debuted at #4 on the Oricon charts: Gradate Wing 01 (April 2020, charting for 31 weeks),[15] and Gradate Wing 07 in September 2020) remained charted for 20 weeks,[16] and Colorful Feathers -Sol- (March 2021) remained charted for seven weeks.[17] Layered Wing 01 (April 2021) debuted at #6 and stayed on the charts for nine weeks.[18]

As of April 2023, the album that charted the highest was Voyager: Shiny Colors Edition (August 2021), which debuted at #2 and remained on the charts for 21 weeks.[19] Layered Wing 07 was released in October that year, debuting at #6 on the charts, and staying charted for eight weeks.[20]

April 2022 saw the release of two albums: Panorama Wing 01 (which debuted at #10 and remained charted for six weeks) and 3rd Live Tour Piece on Planet / Tokyo (debuted at #11 and was charted for four weeks).[21][22] The related 3rd Live Tour Piece on Planet / Fukuoka was released the following month, debuting at #6 and remaining charted for three weeks.[23] Synthe-Side 02 was released in July. It debuted at #25 and remained charted for four weeks.[24] The next album, Panorama Wing 07, remained charted for seven weeks after debuting at #9.[25]

The Idolmaster Shiny Colors: Wing Collection was released across two albums in January and February 2023 (respectively). A Side debuted at #20 and stayed on the charts for five weeks.[26] B Side stayed on the charts for three weeks after debuting at #17.[27]