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Yuki Wakai

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Yuki Wakai
若井 友希
Born (1995-10-30) 30 October 1995 (age 30)
Occupations
  • Voice actress
  • singer
Years active2013–present
Agent81 Produce
Notable work
Musical career
Member of

Yuki Wakai (若井 友希, Wakai Yūki; born 30 October 1995) is a Japanese voice actress and singer affiliated with 81 Produce.[1] She is a member of the idol group Iris, and has starred as Leona West in PriPara, Miton in Mahou Shoujo Nante Mouiidesukara, Itsuki Sumeragi in Kakegurui, Sara Midorikawa in Kiratto Pri Chan, Maria von Messina in Wise Man's Grandchild, Mai Tadakusa in Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki, Naoko Naruse in Let's Make a Mug Too, Hikari Jogasaki in Teppen—!!!, Mamoru in My Wife Has No Emotion, Riku Sorano in Princession Orchestra, and Miharu Kiryu in Witch Watch.

Biography

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Early life

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Yuki Wakai, an only child,[2] was born on 30 October 1995 and is a native of Gifu Prefecture.[3] She became an anime fan in junior high, becoming interested in the Higurashi When They Cry anime after a friend of hers invited her to watch the show together, in part due to its Gifu Prefecture setting.[4] Becoming a fan of the Bleach character Tōshirō Hitsugaya, she became interested in voice acting after learning that he was voiced by a woman, Romi Park.[4]

While attending high school, Wakai performed street shows in Nagoya, carrying an electronic piano in her uniform.[5][6] Despite being part of a unit for these performances, she "wrote [her] own lyrics, composed [her] own music, and sang them".[5] As Wakai later recalled, the music, which she found at the time embarrassing in hindsight, "made [her] realize how important lyrics and melodies are, something you can only write at that time".[5]

Iris and Pretty Rhythm

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Wakai entered the Avex-sponsored kids' contest Kira Challenge during her second year of junior high school, winning the grand prize and attending Avex's training school the following year.[7][8][9] After passing the Avex/81 Produce Anison Vocalist Audition, she became one of the founding members of Iris.[10] As she recalled, her pre-debut training camp was "pretty strict" and their voice acting classes "were really tough for [her]", and having little knowledge of anime, she struggled with conversations there.[9] In 2016, she won the Seiyu Awards Singing Award as part of Iris at the 10th Seiyu Awards.[11]

Wakai starred in PriPara alongside the other members of Iris,[10] voicing Leona West.[1] She reprised her role in PriPara the Movie: Minna Atsumare! Prism Tours,[12] the 2016 stage musical PriPara: Minna ni Todoke,[13] and the 2025 crossover movie Aikatsu! × PriPara the Movie: A Miracle Encounter!.[14] Throughout the Pretty Rhythm franchise, she also voiced Sara Midorikawa in Kiratto Pri Chan[15] and Yurari Saionji in King of Prism: Shiny Seven Stars (2019).[16]

Music career outside of Iris

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Wakai performed "Destiny Sky", the ending theme song for Kingdom; it was released as a single by Dive II Entertainment on 7 November 2012, making Wakai's solo debut.[17] She has also served as a member of the musical group D-selections (ja).[18]

Wakai also works as a solo musician under the name Yuki (友希), an alias she also used as a lyricist and composer for Iris.[19][20] She had forgone her childhood dream of being a singer-songwriter when she settled for Iris, but reconsidered after staff encouraged her; however, she initially struggled for recognition due to her association with the idol group.[21] She released her solo debut single "No More" in 2021.[22] In October 2024, she performed "Hello! My Dream", her solo debut concert.[20] Her solo debut album Main Dish will be released on 29 October 2025.[21]

Voice acting and radio career

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Wakai made her voice acting debut in the 2013 anime series Kingdom,[23] before starring as Miton in Mahou Shoujo Nante Mouiidesukara.[24] She starred as Itsuki Sumeragi in Kakegurui (2017–2019).[25][26] She also starred as Maria von Messina in Wise Man's Grandchild[27] and Mai Tadakusa in Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki;[28] she was selected for the latter she was originally from Gifu Prefecture and matched the character's image.[29] She starred as Naoko Naruse in the 2021 anime Let's Make a Mug Too[30] and was part of the anime' Mug-Mo tie-in musical group.[31] Her other starring roles include Hikari Jogasaki in Teppen—!!!,[32] Mamoru in My Wife Has No Emotion,[33] and Riku Sorano in Princession Orchestra.[34] Since 2025, she has starred as Miharu Kiryu in Witch Watch.[35]

In March 2022, she and Akane Takayanagi started co-hosting the CBC Radio show Takayanagi Akane / Wakai Yuki no Yaodagane.[36]

Personal life

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Wakai cites Chiaki Ito as her idol.[37]

Wakai was once part of a handball club.[38]

Filmography

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Television animation

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
2014–2017 PriPara Leona West [1]
2016 Mahou Shoujo Nante Mouiidesukara Miton [24]
2016 Twin Star Exorcists Suzu [39]
2017–2019 Kakegurui Itsuki Sumeragi [25][26]
2018–2021 Kiratto Pri Chan Sara Midorikawa [15]
2018 Beatless Olga Suguri [40]
2018 Wise Man's Grandchild Maria von Messina [27]
2019 Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki Mai Tadakusa [28]
2021 Let's Make a Mug Too Naoko Naruse [30]
2022 Teppen—!!! Hikari Jogasaki [32]
2024 My Wife Has No Emotion Mamoru [33]
2025 Bullet/Bullet Rin [41]
2025 Let This Grieving Soul Retire! Mary Auden [42]
2025 Princession Orchestra Riku Sorano [34]
2025 Witch Watch Miharu Kiryu [35]

Original net animation

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
2021 Oshiete Hokusai!: The Animation Kanon Kano [43]

Animated film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
2014 PriPara the Movie: Minna Atsumare! Prism Tours Leona West [12]
2019 King of Prism: Shiny Seven Stars Yurari Saionji [16]
2025 Aikatsu! × PriPara the Movie: A Miracle Encounter! Leona West [14]

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
2015 Kobayashi ga Kawai Sugite Tsurai!! Ge-mu demo Kyun Moe MAX ga Tomaranai Tomo-chan [44]
2015 Xuccess Heaven White Academy student [45]

Stage musical

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref
2016 PriPara: Minna ni Todoke Leona West [13]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "若井 友希". 81 Produce. Archived from the original on 15 May 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  2. ^ "「1年間、積み重ねてきたものを実感できるイベント」i☆Ris 山北早紀さん、若井友希さん、澁谷梓希さんが語る「アニメJAM」の歴史と魅力". アニメイトタイムズ. 10 December 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  3. ^ 『My Girl vol.20』KADOKAWA〈エンターブレインムック〉、2017年10月18日第1刷発行、107頁、ISBN 978-4-04-734892-9
  4. ^ a b "【マンスリーアーティスト】i☆Ris インタビュー第2回 若井友希編「厳しかった最初の日々を乗り越えて、i☆Risは体育会系になりました(笑)」". ANiUTa NEWS. 13 November 2019. Archived from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "『プリパラ』でブレイクした声優アイドルｉ☆Ｒｉｓのメンバーが夢とプライベートをぶっちゃけ！". Weekly Playboy News. 4 November 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  6. ^ 森ユースケ (10 July 2021). "声優アイドルユニットi☆Risの"ライバル"から"夫婦"へ変わった９年間". Nikkan Spa!. p. 6. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  7. ^ "VOiCE 若井友希（声優・アイドル・シンガーソングライター） 高校ダイアリー". Gifu Shimbun. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  8. ^ "i☆Risロングインタビュー「Th!s !s i☆Ris!!」は、飛躍と成長の証の2nd.アルバム！". アキバ総研. カカクコム. 16 April 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  9. ^ a b "「i☆Ris」と知らずに集まった6人の「声優アイドル」…唯一無二の10年間は波乱の幕開け!?【特集vol.1】". withonline. 1 February 2022. pp. 1–4. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  10. ^ a b "i☆Ris 日本武道館公演記念メンバー個別インタビュー (4/6)". Music Natalie. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  11. ^ "「第十回 声優アワード」受賞者発表!助演男優賞&パーソナリティ賞に鈴村健一さん、最多得票賞に5年連続で神谷浩史さん". Animate Times. 12 March 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  12. ^ a b Loo, Egan (6 December 2014). "PriPara Film Confirmed With Pretty Rhythm Characters Next March". Anime News Network. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  13. ^ a b Ressler, Karen (17 November 2015). "Pripara Stage Musical Stars Anime's Main Cast". Anime News Network. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  14. ^ a b Cayanan, Joanna (16 July 2025). "Aikatsu! x PriPara THE MOVIE -Deai no Kiseki!- Anime Film Reveals Full Cast, Staff, Theme Songs, October 10 Debut (Updated)". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  15. ^ a b Pineda, Rafael Antonio (28 February 2018). "Kiratto Pri☆Chan Anime Reveals New Cast, Ending Song Artist, April 8 Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  16. ^ a b Mateo, Alex (10 April 2019). "King of Prism: Shiny Seven Stars Anime Casts Megumi Ogata". Anime News Network. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  17. ^ "Destiny Sky | 若井友希". Oricon News (in Japanese). Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  18. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (4 March 2016). "School Battle Anime 'Hundred' Introduces Characters Sakura, Claire in Video". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  19. ^ "【ライブレポート】友希、シンガーソングライターとしての新たなスタートを刻んだバースデーライブ＜#YOLO＞". BARKS. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  20. ^ a b "i☆Risソロインタビュー（3）若井友希＆久保田未夢「受け入れてもらえない時期があったからこそ」". QJWeb. 16 March 2020. p. 1. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  21. ^ a b Mori, Hideyuki (24 October 2025). "友希、i☆Risとソロの狭間で揺れた想い 一度諦めたシンガーソングライターの夢ーー念願の1stアルバムに詰め込んだ情熱". Real Sound. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  22. ^ "「i☆Ris」若井友希、ソロ活動本格始動 シンガーソングライター・友希としてシングル配信開始". Eiga.com. 19 December 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  23. ^ "「若井友希」声優インタビュー＆撮り下ろしグラビア【声優図鑑】". Da Vinci News. 19 October 2015. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  24. ^ a b Pineda, Rafael Antonio (11 November 2015). "Mahō Shōjo Nante Mō Ii Desu Kara. Magical Girl Anime Unveils Cast, Song Artist, Visual". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  25. ^ a b Ressler, Karen (25 April 2017). "Kakegurui - Compulsive Gambler Anime Casts Yūki Wakai". Anime News Network. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  26. ^ a b Ressler, Karen (21 August 2018). "Kakegurui Anime's 2nd Season to Debut in January With Returning Staff, Cast". Anime News Network. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  27. ^ a b Hodgkins, Crystalyn (20 December 2018). "Kenja no Mago Anime's Teaser Video Reveals Opening Artist, 5 More Cast Members". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  28. ^ a b Pineda, Rafael Antonio (21 January 2019). "Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki TV Anime About Nagoya Announces More Cast, Character Designer". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  29. ^ 一迅社刊 『八十亀ちゃんかんさつにっき』 単行本第6巻 pp.143-144。
  30. ^ a b Pineda, Rafael Antonio (28 July 2020). "Yakunara Mug Cup Mo Pottery Anime Reveals Cast, Staff". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  31. ^ Mateo, Alex (8 March 2021). "Let's Make a Mug Too Anime's Main Cast Perform Opening Theme Song". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  32. ^ a b Hodgkins, Crystalyn (22 February 2022). "Teppen—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anime Reveals 3 More Cast Members". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  33. ^ a b Cayanan, Joanna (4 June 2024). "My Wife Has No Emotion Anime Casts Risae Matsuda, Yūki Wakai". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  34. ^ a b Pineda, Rafael Antonio (21 March 2025). "Princession Orchestra Anime's Video Reveals More Cast". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  35. ^ a b Cayanan, Joanna (22 June 2025). "Witch Watch Anime Reveals 2nd Part's Theme Songs, Additional Cast".
  36. ^ "高柳明音＆若井友希(i☆Ris) のラジオ番組がCBCラジオで放送決定！". Animate Times. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  37. ^ 森ユースケ (1 December 2022). "10年間で築いた自信、友情とは一味違う一体感が生み出す「i☆Ris」の魅力". Nikkan Spa!. p. 5. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  38. ^ "高柳明音と若井友希が語る、夏のアイスといえばやっぱりこれ！". RadiChubu. 5 August 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  39. ^ Ressler, Karen (29 August 2016). "Twin Star Exorcists Adds Cast for Anime-Original Arc". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  40. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (7 December 2017). "Beatless Anime Casts Takuto Yoshinaga, Kaito Ishikawa, Daiki Yamashita". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  41. ^ Cayanan, Joanna (19 March 2025). "Sung Hoo Park's Bullet/Bullet Anime Reveals Cast, July 16 Net Debut in Teaser". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  42. ^ Mateo, Alex (10 October 2025). "Let This Grieving Soul Retire! Season 2 Anime Casts Kiyono Yasuno, Yūki Wakai". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  43. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (9 February 2021). "Oshiete Hokusai! Anime's Teaser Reveals Cast, Theme Song, March Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  44. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (4 June 2015). "So Cute It Hurts/Kobayashi ga Kawai Sugite Tsurai!! 3DS Game Adds More Cast". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  45. ^ Nelkin, Sarah (17 March 2015). "Xuccess Heaven Project Announced as Smartphone RPG". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
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