Love Live! franchise announced on Tuesday that Tomori Kusunoki, the voice actress of Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club‘s Setsuna Yuki and Nana Nakagawa, will step down from the roles as of March 31, 2023. The official Twitter account also posted an image of handwritten messages by other cast members of Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club dedicated to the voice actress. Tomori Kusunoki quote-tweeted the post to express her appreciation: “Thank you very much, mates. I love you all!“
Aguri Onishi’s Message (Ayumu Uehara)
I’m not sure which words I should pick to deliver my thoughts… It’s difficult, but I think I have the same feeling as you who have been supporting us.
It really surprised me, made me cry a lot, and made me sad. We’ve overcome many obstacles together so far, and this makes me feel truly lonely. But I want to respect Tomori-chan’s decision, because she is my precious mate, and she will forever be my precious, favorite friend. I’ll keep doing my best with Ayumu-chan.
Role of Ayumu Uehara
Aguri Onishi
Maya Sagara (Kasumi Nakasu)
To be honest, I’m still not feeling the reality with the sudden news. I believe Tomori did reach the decision after her thought on the rest of her long life. So I respect her judgement and, even though it feels lonely, I’d like to carefully cherish the remaining time to spend with her!
Role of Kasumi Nakasu
Mayu Sagara
Kaori Maeda (Shizuka Osaka)
I was really surprised to hear the news. The moment I heard, a lot of memories we have walked along together came to mind and it took some time to organize my feelings. And you know, I’m filled with the feeling of loneliness. But I believe that’s the decision she made after she was worried a lot about that. So I’ll try to have a lot of chats with her during when we can do activities together. Tomori will keep on being our mate forever and ever, and I’ll do my best in the Nijigasaki project together with her feelings, so I’m glad if we can receive your warm support. Tomori, I love you!
Role of Shizuku Osaka
Kaori Maeda
Miyu Kubota (Karin Asaka)
I was really surprised, same as others, when I heard the news. I have the feeling of loneliness, but I think Tomori-chan made the decision after she was really worried and put a lot of thought into it, so it’d be wonderful if we can make many memories until the very last day of our activities together. I’d appreciate your continued warm support for us.
Role of Karin Asaka
Miyu Kubota
Natsumi Murakami (Ai Miyashita)
I’m gonna be honest, I’m missing you so muuuuuch!!! It feels lonely. But our ties will keep going forever, and our memories won’t be gone!!! And I bet we’re in sync forever!!!! Tomori! I’ll love you forever and ever!!! We’ll aaaaalways be friends!!! I’m really fond of the part of you who easily laughs!! I want to keep seeing a lot of your smiles from now on, too!! So let’s go for meals and hangout a lot!!! And let’s travel around with all someday!! You’re dependable, so it may happen you’ll work too hard, but you can count on us to take breaks!! I’m repeating this, but!! Our pretty, pretty Tomori… I’ll always love youuuu!!!!
Role of Ai Miyashita
Natsumi Murakami
Akari Kito (Kanata Konoe)
Tomori, you’re straightforward, your own person, and dependable. I love your voice and songs. I feel lonely, but you must be the most frustrated about that. Thank you for having been doing your best to your limits with struggles in mind. It was really fun to have done activities together with you. We’ll have to go our separate ways in this project, but what you have done won’t be gone, and I’ll be glad if we can keep being friends as actors and as persons.
Role of Kanata Konoe
Akari Kito
Maria Sashide (Emma Verde)
It’s really difficult to put my feelings into words now. The feeling of loneliness is so big I honestly still can’t accept it. But what matters the most is Tomori doing well. The period until the end of March when she can stay in Nijigasaki as Setsuna-chan, I’m hoping it will be fun both for Tomori and you all, so I’d like to cherish every single activity. In order to move forward with Tomori’s wish on my back, I’d appreciate your continued support from now on, too.
Role of Emma Verde
Maria Sashide
Chiemi Tanaka (Rina Tennoji)
For these five years, I was truly happy to have been able to work together with Tomori. Tomori, you’re diligent, with a high professionalism, honest, and pretty cute. We’re really on the same wavelength and we’ve talked a lot, right? I always felt comfortable being next to you. I honestly feel lonely very much and I still don’t have the feeling of reality. But we’ll be friends forever and ever, Tomori! I want to hear a lot of your stories in the future, too!! I looove you, Tomori ♡ I’ll catch you later about when we can hang out again lol For fans of you all, I’m hoping for your continued support!
Role of Rina Tennoji
Chiemi Tanaka
Moeka Koizumi (Shioriko Mifune)
I like Tomori’s voice. I like Tomori’s songs. I like the words Tomori says. I like the very existence of Tomori. That is, I have and will always love Tomori.
Role of Shioriko Mifune
Moeka Koizumi
Shu Uchida (Mia Taylor)
Tomori-chan, I really like you laughing and doing your best! And I’ll always do! When I heard the news, at first, to be frank, it surprised me, but I believe you made the decision after a lot of thought, and, to be honest? I mean it!! It actually feels lonely, but this is not a forever goodbye or something!!! Let’s do keep doing our best together!
As a member who joined later, I may have spent a less amount of time to work with Tomori-chan than other members, but still, I’m really glad to have become closer to the point where we can share laugh out loud moments and cheer for each other. Let me keep being so close to you! Love you Tomori😊Role of Mia Taylor
Shu Uchida
Akina Homoto (Lanzhu Zhong)
I was finally getting closer to Tomori-chan and made friends. The news came when I was hoping to make more memories with her, so to be honest, it’s very lonely.
Anytime when I talk to her, she always has a smile on her face and is bright, I really lover her. I finally managed to have a lot of heart-to-heart talks [but it happened].
But the time we have spent won’t be gone, and what Tomori-chan has cherished won’t be gone. They won’t be forever.Role of Lanzhu Zhong
Akina Homoto
Hinaki Yano (Yu Takasaki)
When the role of Yu-chan was decided, it was Tomori-chan who was the first and the most to be delighted. I love adorable and dependable Tomori-chan!! It’s really lonely, but I’ll keep showing deep affection for Nijigasaki by nurturing feelings. I have and will always love Nijigasaki! Everyone, let’s keep yelling your love for the future Nijigasaki, too!
Role of Yu Takasaki
Hinaki Yano
You can check Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club cast members handwritten messages for Tomori Kusunoki.
Also Read:
Voice Actress Tomori Kusunoki to Step Down from Love Live Due to Health Issues
The Love Live! franchise states that Tomori Kusunoki’s illness makes it difficult for her to have continuous live activities. They also received her decision to step down from the roles and decided to accept it after a series of careful meetings. She will terminate the activity of the Nijigasaki High School Idol Club as of March 31, 2023. However, her voice recorded for stories in the franchise’ app game Love Live! School Idol Festival ALL Stars will be available after the mentioned period. The successor to the role is currently in the process of selection and will be announced once it’s decided.
Other than Setsuna Yuki and Nana Nakagawa in the Love Live! franchise, Tomori Kusunoki played roles such as Misha Necron in The Misfit of Demon King Academy, and she is currently voicing Makima in Chainsaw Man.
Source: Official Twitter (Love Live!), Official Twitter (Tomori Kusunoki)
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