mariblog

I have a list on Twitter. It was originally catered to the best of the best among seiyuu, as you will probably realise over the course of this. But now it has expanded well beyond just them, to encompass all manner of professions, to the point where it has reached its definitive milestone: 100 girls on it. So, to celebrate, I’m going to do my level best to sell them all to you. One of them will get you somehow, some way.

Mako Morino: Noted baseball lover who went on to voice a noted baseball-loving character in Yuki Himekawa. Her passion and energy in the real world matches that of her character. The first of a clutch of personalities here of the kind of vintage that CG’s greatest have now settled into.

Emiri Katou: A legend among seiyuu for having brought an array of captivating characters to life. Her remarkable vocal range and emotional depth allow her to seamlessly portray characters across various genres, from endearing heroines to enigmatic villains. She also has the luxury of voicing some of my very favourite characters of all, but make no mistake, no matter what you think of her characters, she remains a cherished presence in the industry.

Suzuko Mimori: Let it be known that we might have reached the most beautiful person on this list already. And she’s 37 years old. Suzuko Mimori has that unquantifiable golden ratio that adds up to what we call ‘it’. A timeless wonder, still going and doing her thing every now again in her biggest active role in Revue Starlight, and still putting out more than her fair share of singles, Mimo has thoroughly earnt the immense following she can call her own.

Yoshino Nanjo: Her old groupmate from mu’s has earnt her following too. But Yoshino Nanjo is pretty comfortable where she is now. Her glory days that included her star turn as fripside singer have passed now, but it can hardly be overstated how important and big a figure she was at the apex of her powers. She still chills on livestreams from time to time, as she happily whiles away her time on the love of her life, FF14. She’s earnt the right to do that, too.

Yuka Kuramochi: Technically more gamer than gravure idol these days, but she still likes to remind us every now and again. Her ability to effortlessly shift between these diverse realms showcases her versatility and multifaceted nature. Despite the evolution in her career – perhaps not least one forced by having a kid – Motchi continues to captivate audiences with her still rocking bod.

Eriko Matsui: A veteran of the Cygames sphere and a frequent presence among its franchises, Matsueri has established herself as a stalwart within the likes of iM@s and Uma Musume. Great voice, super cool on a live stage, she’s a seiyuu of the old-school style, yet still good in the classic sense of the profession.

Ruriko Aoki: Big-time gamer, and a big-time person. Literally. You don’t see many seiyuu breaking into the 170s in height. Husky of voice and sure of ability, Ruriko Aoki stands out as a solid operator. Her YouTube channel stands out as one of the most chilled-out of all, being a host to countless gaming streams of hers over the years which continue to this day.

Shizuku Honami: The cosplaying game is, unsurprisingly, exceptionally crowded. It takes special efforts to stand out among the many there, and my pick of the bunch is Shizuku Honami. Super cute outside of cosplay, gravure-quality shots to spare and notably someone with a twin sister to spice things up in her photo shoots, you’re hard pressed to find better than her.

Aya Hirano: A megastar who has been through the wringer and back out the other side of it again, few are likely to rival Aya Hirano’s history, and fewer still her profile at the peak of her career. A trailblazer in her day, for better or worse, she’s settled down into a safe haven of musicals now. Hardly an unusual path these days, even for current seiyuu.

Izumi Kitta: Literally my local seiyuu, in that she splits her time between London among other places. Another veteran of the game, Izu-sama has very much settled into enjoying the life she’s made for herself. Particularly worth a follow on Instagram for all the places she goes.

Haruka Yamazaki: There aren’t many whose dedication to her craft extends to role-playing your character in lives to as great an extent as possible. Haruka Yamazaki is one of those. Always fancy with her looks, her role as Million Live’s central character Mirai Kasuga sees her don her hairstyle at lives and quite literally look the part. And she’s definitely not shy of a further cosplay of anyone else, either. Hugely impressive and wholesome as a person.

Arisa Date: Unique among the rest of the names here for being a professional mahjong player. So that’s a reasonable chunk of fans cornered. She’s also been designated picture taker for a number of iM@s lives. Which, on a personal level, allowed me to witness their seiyuu first-hand and consequently influenced me into finding out more about them. Which resulted in a list such as this in the first place. So I’ve got her to thank for that.

Chiaki Takahashi: Seiyuu, singer, and gravure idol extraordinaire, even well into her 40s. With the fortune to be voicing someone as good as Azusa Miura, Chiaking has proven her ability to breathe life into diverse characters, captivating audiences with her remarkable voice acting skills. She’s done an awful lot over the years, up to and including being in seiyuu groups. Well ahead of the curve on the gravure side too, obviously. No seiyuu to this day may have touched her on that side, in fact.

Anri Sugihara: The OG gravure idol to end them all, simple as. So good was Anri Sugihara’s work in its day that it still stands up even now. In fact, even she can still stand up to the best of them now. She still rolls back the years on occasion to remind us all of just what she can do. A benchmark-setter of her time, so many have tried to match her, and so many have failed.

Noriko Shibasaki: Best known as the voice of one of the great onee-chans of our time, Chiyuki Kuwayama, Noriko stands out by being another sort who comes across quite unlike anyone else around. Soft looks coupled to an especially dazzling smile do the trick. Her first photobook was simply excellent, too.

Shiki Aoki: There’s absolutely no one here more distinctive than Shiki Aoki. And that goes way beyond a set of deep vocals. Indeed, Shiki openly identifies as a transgender man. That’s a huge deal given Japan is relatively behind the curve on attitudes towards it and means we have a relative one-of-a-kind on our hands here. Quality gaming and fashion content on a popular YouTube channel makes for a worthy seiyuu, even aside from the inspiration and authenticity that resonates with so many.

Mikoi Sasaki: The old guard in the best group YouTube channel among seiyuu, Team Y, Mikoi Sasaki is an alumni of such formative series as Milky Holmes. Her spot as the group’s oldest leans right into her highly mature vibe, and gives her just the appeal you’d want. Quite apart from her being another typically talented and versatile voice actress.

Pile: A legend at her peak who has taken her unqualified success as a seiyuu and singer and now pours it into the bars, clubs and restaurants of Roppongi (notwithstanding the occasional mu’s orchestra appearance). But in playing such a vital role in turning Maki Nishikino into perhaps the most beloved fictional idol ever seen, Pile has earnt her keeps.

Atsumi Tanezaki: Highly acclaimed to the point of being awarded recently for her work in the big-time role of Anya out of Spy x Family, earning her a well-deserved reputation as a standout performer in the industry. With her remarkable vocal range and emotive delivery, she brings depth and authenticity to every character she portrays. Yet despite her rise, she remains a more low-key figure relative to several other big names. That might suit some, though.

Haruna Momono: Some deserve better than what they get, and Haruna Momono is one of those. Mind you, at least she has one of the better halves of D4DJ by being in Rondo, and in voicing someone like Hiiro Yano. The character she plays matches up to who she is very well. The mature aesthetic between both of them is her strongest asset.

Miinyan (aka Rio): Amateur cosplayers and ‘online’ gravure idols can still be well worth your time, provided you find ones who mean well and don’t push their content too far. Of course, they can still be successful in their own little way, and Miinyan stands out as one of those. She hits the kind of marks and vibes that you don’t get from the pros (and, it must be noted, all for free). Especially if you like tights.

Naomi Majima: There are some gravure idols out there whose presence is such that you just can’t miss them. Naomi Majima is very much one of those. She dominates just about any scene she walks into, and comes packed with a body straight out of many’s dreams. Nobody ‘gets’ the appeal a gravure idol can carry off quite like she does, between things like her expressions in her photoshoots to the underlying flirtiness of it all. A hearty smile within it all completes the complete package.

Emi Kurita: The other way you can really stand out among your gravure idol peers is looking like no one else around. And that’s what Emi Kurita does. One of the softest-looking faces around, coupled to a popping bod, gives you the recipe for someone very special indeed. Just don’t look too closely at her AI pics, no matter how hard she’s pushing it. Can someone just show this girl Stable Diffusion?

Ru Ting: The voice of the one-time Cinderella Girl Syuko Shiomi. Damn good she is, too. She’s also half-Chinese, a noted figure in the oft-overlooked Tokyo 7th Sisters and in the unusual half-space of being criminally underrated for roles while still simultaneously having the clout to hang with some pretty big names.

Makoto Koichi: Somewhat of a late bloomer as it goes with seiyuu, it was landing a role in iM@s that launched Makoto Koichi into the sort of respectable career many in the profession would take. That she pulls off someone as boyish yet simultaneously youthful as Haru Yuuki speaks to a solid range all round.

Mai Fuchigami: Another talented voice actress of the old school, not that she looks it even as she turns 37 next month. Plenty of prominent characters to her name, having graced both Precure and iM@s. And her prominence in live performances got her to the point where a solo career became feasible.

Ami Maeshima: Remember how Ami Maeshima was gone? She’s now back. The outpouring of affection that met this news shows you just how good she was, and still should be. Though we await the product of her return as she continues getting back into the swing of things, her endearing personality remains fully intact. Some of the best of her first act is lost in the ether now, but her second act should be just as tantalising.

Carin Isobe: If anyone deigns to define Carin Isobe by her plastic surgery, let them be known they are wrong. She is a brilliant seiyuu. Sparky of voice and with beauty to spare, she’s earnt her rising profile. Plus she dropped one of the most drop-dead gorgeous gravure photobooks any seiyuu has ever done, and had the general fandom gasping at it. She can catch you so easy, and you should relish in it.

Sayaka Tomaru: We haven’t dwelt on a live actress yet, and Sayaka Tomaru is the first. She’s been quite involved in it actually, and remains so, and with it comes subsequent extended jobs as a result. Not least of which her comprehensive gravure work, in which she hits all the marks. And when new gravure comes out for her, it tends to come in droves. All the better.

Moe Toyota: The power of a good seiyuu unit can be seen in just how it has shaped Moe Toyota, first with the immensely popular Stylips and then carrying on with her partner-in-crime Miku Ito as Pyxis. While Mikku may take the plaudits as an undeniably attractive proposition, I reckon Moeshi is better. She has a notably more distinct look, her deeper voice will be right up many people’s street and her plentiful gravure over the years has always been straight out of the top drawer. And her impending PB might be the best yet.

Ayasa Ito: It’s hard to know where to start with all the different kinds of appeal Ayasa Ito channels. From her story of becoming a keyboard player entirely from scratch for Bandori, to the little imperfections in her personality that put her above even the relentlessly smoothed-out Aimi among her Team Y peers, to the assets that give her suitability for gravure, Ayasa has so much to unpack from her little body.

Teru Ikuta: And her long-running best mate isn’t half bad either. Teru Ikuta rocks one of the best boyish looks of them all, and such was her talent she even broke her way into the Idolmaster chain – after her breakout success in Revue! Those two roles, by themselves, have sustained one hell of a seiyuu. Impressive stuff.

Mariko Nagai: If nothing else, those behind the constant search for Idolmaster’s seiyuu know how to pick someone to match a character in likeness. Mariko Nagai is a strong example of that with her character, Juri Saijo. This despite flaws in her looks that she has, to her eternal credit, embraced. They don’t make her look any less sweet. Also a noted GT-R fan.

Nozomi Yamamoto: There’s a vibe to Nozomi Yamamoto that you just don’t get with others around here. Think the vibes of the family member who goes along with the kids in a gathering even when they’re at risk of embarrassing you. Perhaps that’s why she’s leant herself so well to accompanying the constant stream of newbies Cinderella Girls has. She’s a wonderful personality.

Mea Shimotsuki: Another gamer in the mould of Yuka Kuramochi, to the point where they often collaborate together. But Mea’s quite different when it comes to her gravure, or at least the vibe of it. Indeed, her gal image might be something of a throwback in the modern age but she spices it up with a more modern vibe nicely. Oh, and she is a proper cosplayer extraordinaire. Couple that to a brakes-off demeanour and you have yourself a real little devil.

Saki Yamakita: Iris’ oldest member, and therefore a fitting talent to be its leader. That maturity carries itself over to her vibe within the group, as its most sisterly member, yet she is more than capable of joining in with the chaos her members can generate, and indeed even channelling it such that she becomes its prime dealer.

Himika Akaneya: Iris’s center, and unquestionably its biggest livewire. This quality has granted her quite possibly the single greatest YouTube channel of any seiyuu in history. Behind this though is one serious style icon, who has been through tons of good looks and who can pull off countless different vibes like no other. This is quite something to say of someone who fronts a series as prominent as Pripara, but she may be as underrated a seiyuu as there is out there.

Yuki Wakai: The affectionate term bandied around for someone this short is often ‘gremlin’, but have you ever seen a gremlin as sweet as this? Yuki Wakai fits the mould very well, mind. What with that scrunched-up face she does and all. But within her is one of the most immense voices of all here, enough to best everyone else here in a karaoke contest, I reckon. A low-key sweetheart.

Yu Serizawa: No one’s appeal is quite as versatile in Iris as Seriko’s. Perhaps this comes from some of the contradictions of those appeals, like her height contrasting with her high voice and her managing to come across as super cute and yet as onee-chanly as any seiyuu yet seen. She’s covered every piece of the jigsaw that these talents go for, and has been notably excellent in all of them. Simply superb.

Miyu Kubota: Yet it’s Miyutan who has turned into Iris’ biggest name, and not unreasonably. She carries the broadest appeal, the sort that landed her a spot in Love Live as its most mature character of all. Right up there in the absolute beauty stakes, the fact that she balances herself between level-headed and chaotic only helps her case.

Momoyo Koyama: There’s plenty to commend with Moyo, between one of the wider smiles among seiyuu, a warm, wide pair of eyes, a soothing voice and her proud place as a member of Soundorion. Has one good PB to her name, and deserves more credit for someone who is the face of a series as successful as Revue Starlight.

Tsunko: A wild child of a talent, with wilder looks, who has tried just about everything over the sun. In the end, the talents of Tsunko’s have stuck have been her cosplaying, plus her DJing, which got her a spot on D4DJ, and among the talents in that series she is clearly its biggest exponent of gravure. She even held her own within the all-conquering PPE agency until not so long ago. Another one of those who you simply can’t take your eyes off.

Yuri Noguchi: Voice actor of the notably thick-chested Shizuku Oikawa and the notably thick-thighed Reisalin Stout, it seems as though Yuri Noguchi doesn’t do small roles. Yet she routinely goes under the radar as seiyuu goes these days, though not so much that she isn’t present in Uma Musume either. But there’s plenty to enjoy with her if you go looking for it.

Lynn: Now for someone a little different. Specifically, a half-American. Wide eyes like Lynn’s are always going to, well, catch the eye, and hers are no exception. Couple that to the star turn she gained from being one of the most invested of the many seiyuu in Uma Musume, plus one high quality photobook, and you have a typically classy modern-day talent…who just happens to be a little atypical, too.

Natsumi Hirajima: You’ll notice a conspicuous absence from this list: any idols from a big-name group. That’s usually because there’s altogether too many of them. The girls those groups leave behind can be interesting, though. Not least ex-AKB member Natsumi Hirajima, who goes beyond the popping bod she has often flaunted in her role as Rika Seto of D4DJ by having a vested interest in motorbikes, to add appeal to those who might otherwise see her as just another one of ‘those’.

Nashiko Momotsuki: A Swiss Army knife of a talent, Nashiko shines in so many aspects and respects. She’s much celebrated for her tokusatsu work, her frequent hosting of shows – some of which lean into her gloriously deep interest in Pokemon – and, of course, her simply first-class gravure, which serves as a benchmark for just about every ‘mature’ approach to photoshoots. Everything about her is just right.

Hinata Sato: It’s hard to know where to start with someone whose talent has stretched her into as many series as Hinata Sato has got into. From her supreme voice, to her undoubted skill on stage, to her plenty hilarious personality, to her very much distinct looks, there’s something for everyone to love in Hiichan. Still only 25, she feels like having been around for ages – because, of course, she has. She started early, after all. Which no doubt helps explain the abundant talent within.

Ayaka Ohashi: Her breakout character, when asking her greatest quality, was told “her smile”. If life imitates art, Ayaka Ohashi might do it better than anyone else. For all the tangible and obvious appeals some can hold, sometimes it’s the intangible you can’t explain and spend your life trying to explain that matter. For Hasshi, it’s simple: an undeniable case of ‘infectious happiness’. Sweetness personified.

Ayano Sumida: Talking of mature gravure idols, few carry off the air of it better than Ayano Sumida. Her classically beautiful look shows the positives behind a simple and basic approach like hers. No frills, no spills, just natural allure. She’s as close to the aforementioned Anri Sugihara as anyone can come these days, and praise can hardly come higher than that.

Yasuyo Saito: Another case of ‘infectious happiness’ lies within here, and sure enough Yasuyo Saito’s mile-wide smile would probably be enough to win her many fans by itself. The fact it’s also attached to a glorious body with legs long enough to put anyone else’s to shame borders on overkill. She’s only really started ramping her activity up lately this year, but next year… Every other gravure idol around had better watch out.

Enako: For all the relative avoidance I try to feign of the most mainstream talents, sometimes you just can’t ignore those at the top of the pile. Enako is surely the creme de la creme of her corner of the industry, plastering magazines on a near-weekly basis and still churning out a limitless supply of cosplays. She carries all the graces of someone who knows she’s at the top of the game, and quite frankly, the millions upon millions of followers she has aren’t wrong in the slightest.

Yura Yura: Boil the essence of an idol down to their constituent parts and you would probably end up with someone like Yura Yura. Sweetness on top, naughtiness underneath that lends itself to gravure perfectly, a slight air of mystery about some of her personality that adds a bit of extra spice, and – from innumerable sources – the level of possessiveness all idols love to carry off. And as a bonus, an undeniable love of Kuromi. If you need a gateway to idols in general, you’d be hard-pressed to find better than Yura.

Azusa Tadokoro: There’s so much to love behind the shy, unassuming yet sweet exterior of Azusa Tadokoro. Not least of which is her deep and powerful voice, which has resulted in some of the best solo songs among all seiyuu. Her more timid personality always gets put into situations that bring great hilarity, too. It helps that she voices some top, top characters as well. Her three from the big series she features in – Milllion Live, Bang Dream and Uma Musume – all feature among my very favourites from them.

Haruka Chisuga: A somewhat mystical figure, in that despite not earning great popularity herself, she has oftentimes rubbed shoulders with some of the best of the best. Perhaps that’s why her talents are often sold short. She’s got a voice with plenty of gravitas and has for a long time carried the classic short-haired charm that defines so many with that style.

Jun Amaki: Another fixture of the mainstream, and it’s not hard to see why. Jun Amaki’s look is perhaps the definitive standard for the conventional Japanese look, and it’s testament to how good it is that you can notice it over her clear and obvious assets. She knows what she’s got – and some. Almost no one leans into them harder than she does. Such is her stature in gravure circles that she may have played more than a hand in influencing her former colleague and friend from her idol days…

Kisumi Amau: Every idol has their stories to tell. But Kisumi Amau’s one is unique. The way she’s been going for over a decade, fighting through physical and mental ailments all the way (and to this day) is testament to the sheer talent that has seen her become possibly the single most popular chika idol today. Her devilish wit and charms will make you come, but the candid and frank personality within will make you stay.

Rikako Aida: There’s always room for one genuine beaut in a Love Live group. For Mimo and mu’s, read Rikako Aida and Aqours. She has routinely been capable of dropping jaws all round with her looks – and sometimes with her actions as well, to be honest. And the great thing is, she’s gotten herself back in the gravure game. Many from Love Live are trying their hand at it, but Rikako leaves most of them far, far behind.

Komari Nakamoto: Idol groups are hardly short of their infectious smiles, but Komari Nakamoto’s spreads easier than most. Her look is hardly a million miles away from some others – even in totally different industries – but it’s just so good. A young rising idol par excellence, more success together with the rest of her superb group Mooove! is surely only just around the corner.

Hazuki Tanda: If an idol escaped and made it as a seiyuu instead, this is about what you’d get. Hazuki Tanda might not look as dissimilar as she seems, but she knows how to get the crowds purring. All this while keeping her teasing within the kind of limits that some people prefer to stay within. I can totally see the appeal.

Maki Kawase: A super cool seiyuu, with the exact sort of personality you’d expect from such a figure and, most importantly, with a voice packing serious gravitas behind it. It’s quite a surprise it took so long for Maki Kawase to come on the map, to be honest, and even now she remains somewhat unsung.

Sayaka Kitahara: Could this be an inclination towards a character swaying things too much here? In this case, no. Sayaka Kitahara really can do the business as Mei Izumi live, as part of the wild ride that is Straylight. They are a real see-it-to-believe-it case. In another success story for iM@s matching up its seiyuu to its character, Sayaka also stands out by packing a surprising amount of beauty to her, in the kind of way you might struggle to resist if you’re in the mood.

Azumi Waki: Now we’re talking about a seiyuu who has really made it into the big leagues. Azumi Waki is what you get when you simply put in hard, and constant work. She has to her name some exceptional roles, capping it off with her place as the center of the all-conquering Uma Musume. Chill and calm as a personality, she’s a blueprint for many others to follow.

Liyuu: Sweetness and innocence can be quite an intangible factor, and so it is with Liyuu. But she has both in huge spades. It’s this which has leant her so well to Love Live, and the live stage, quite apart from the cosplaying with which she made her name. Add to this quite possibly the best solo work of any seiyuu when it comes to music, and you have a true modern classic among her peers.

Arisa Komiya: I’m listing many different seiyuu here, but for sheer levels of attraction few can rival Arisa Komiya. Packing one of the most diverse bodies of work – between tokusatsu work, a spot in a group as prominent as Aqours, DJing and some simply excellent gravure shoots – Arisha goes well above and beyond the seiyuu norm. Even without her distinctive and enticing look, that’s enough to sell her by itself.

Ralumu Fujikawa: No one can ruffle feathers quite like Ralumu Fujikawa, in more ways than one. Her thoroughly unique looks, coupled to her extraordinarily leggy frame, are one thing. The way she uses them to go against the grain on Japan’s social matters is quite another. And she’s not afraid to fight back on them. There’s rarely a dull moment when she pops up. If you go and follow her, strap yourselves in for some chaos.

Machico: Definitely one of the most colourful among seiyuu, both character and appearance-wise, Machico is for the style-conscious ones. But that’s not to dismiss her vocal talents, not least in her breakout role as Tsubasa Ibuki which remains still her finest. Her live performances as her remain spectacular, and as a central figure for Uma Musume she continues to prove that point further still.

Maaya Uchida: Quite simply an elite talent. Maaya Uchida’s roll call of roles, earnt by her immense range and devastatingly powerful vocals, puts just about all others here to shame. So much so that her solo singles have brought her genuine mainstream success. There’s even some unqualified successes in gravure in there if you look back far enough. She has done the lot. 

Aya Suzaki: For those who might find themselves lost in the echo of the huge fandoms the big names build, but still want a seiyuu with plenty of street cred, Aya Suzaki is a happy compromise. She’s landed more than her fair share of great roles over her long and illustrious career, and with her most chaotic days behind her she now serves as a very cosy presence among the great and the good of her peers.

Meruda Ikeda: Right now, the best ex-idol going. Focus not on how Meruda Ikeda was left hanging relative to her – admittedly excellent – fellow Babababambi members. Worry not about the stigma behind being a hafuu – Indonesian in this case – which she has spoken of before as going against her. Someone out there should recognise her unquestionably vivid personality and her simply superb looks, and get her to where she ought to be.

Naomi Payton: Another half-American, and one who went from hopeful young idol to all-new Love Live actress with one audition. No small jump, yet Naomi Payton handled it to perfection. Taking on board the overbearing character of Sumire Heanna, she pulled it off wonderfully. A charmer with all the energy to match, and who is taking her style to interesting places outside of Liella.

Sumire Uesaka: For sheer, raw talent and appeal, Sumire Uesaka might just be untouchable. In the elite cadre of vocalists, she has quite simply done it all. All kinds of music, the sort that runs through her frankly quite unhinged head. And no one can lure in fans quite like she can. Perhaps the most universally admired of all the true mega-stars.

Nichika Omori: An occasional presence among some pretty big names, just quietly going about her business in the background. But you shouldn’t sleep on Nichika Omori. For someone whose look is almost permanently on shuffle, she rarely ever misses on looking good. And she is in some quality series as well, enough to whet the appetite.

Hikaru Tono: I haven’t really talked about big-time dancing ability with anyone here, but I feel it really does need stressing with Hikaru Tono. For Bushiroad’s many flaws, they know how to find specialists like Tonopii. Some of the dance clips she was putting up in response to her growing following have to be seen to be believed. No wonder she attracted attention from further afield, including the all-powerful Uma Musume.

Yurika Kubo: Another seasoned veteran of the mu’s era for Love Live – and one who is still going strong, relative to her peers. Shikaco has always stood out as perhaps the cutest of them, both in appearance and voice, and as one of the members of the group who partook in gravure historically hers can reasonably be considered the best. Plenty to ponder with her, then.

Hina Suguta: A rising star, not least by falling into a big role that attracted considerable attention at the time in Marin. It was also an award-winning performance for her, in the event. But her role in Bang Dream, coupled with her sweet and dreamy smile, meant she was already a known quantity to those who’d seen her before. Her steady rise since is just reward for her efforts.

Otono Sakurai: This is not your cookie-cutter gravure idol. Well, aside from the body, but you could have guessed that going in. No, what gives Otono Sakurai such appeal is the demeanour she carries is a breath of fresh air to the gravure standard. And the great thing is she’s developing all the time, trying new expressions to add to her already incredible repertoire. A rising prospect you should catch some day, and already one of the coolest gravure idols around.

Iori Io: There’s nothing so unusual about Iori Io, though, quite apart from the sheer level of swagger she carries about her. Sharp eyes like hers make her gravure routinely something fierce and give her an energy that belies her frame. She leans into in fully every single time and makes her the tallest-looking person ever to be short. Deeply impressive.

Umi Shinonome: If you’re gonna go for someone mainstream, this is the pick of the lot. With a body that looks and seems almost heaven-sent, Umi Shinonome is gonna get you looking one day. She rocks glasses like no one else and comes with the aura of sheer confidence that a person with her assets warrants. She even comes packed with a suitably geeky interest in the form of Gundams, in case some people needed more attracting to her. There’s always room for others’ tastes as their favourites, but few would deny that Umi is one of, if not the, outright best.

Minami Natsu: You probably know Asobisystem and, by extension, their idol agency Kawaiilab through Fruits Zipper, who made it big time with their Tiktok hit わたしの一番かわいいところ. But for a calmer experience, their newer group Candy Tune is where it’s at. And they also have an idol with some standout looks in Minami Natsu. Wide-eyed looks are ten-a-penny in idoldom, but when they’re this wide, you just have to sit up and take notice. When you can pull it off, so much the better.

Yui Otoi: Here was the best ex-idol going for a moment…but not for long. Yui Otoi was much too good to stay out of the game for too long, being cute as a button with the added bonus of being bilingual, and in joining  the same Kawaiilab agency as the above-mentioned Minami after her graduation from notall earlier in the year, her future prospects laid clear, Sure enough, she’s in the all new SWEET STEADY group, meaning she shall once again shine as brightly as she always has done among idols.

Shu Uchida: From out of the depths of Australia has come one of the most glamorous performers going today. Shu Uchida stands as simply a very wholesome presence to have around, and the effort she goes to in accommodating her considerable overseas fanbase outdoes just about everyone else. Truly a worthy little superstar.

Akari Kito: Perhaps the defining talent of her era, Akari Kito has hit absolutely every mark that matters. Her voice is truly something special, standing out from a competitive crowd. The result? An embarrassment of riches when it comes to roles, prominent or otherwise. An elite cadre of series she can cite on her roll call, among them some of the most celebrated characters of all time. The love for her from all corners is genuine, and totally deserved.

Mico, the aunt: I’d never admit to being a fitness freak, but I have space for those who are here. Especially if if helps them look good well into their 40s. Sure enough, Mico, trainer at a seriously popular fitness club in Kyoto, proves the benefits of this by having as good a body as she does.

Kyoka, the niece: But for the youthful ones, you’ve also got her niece, Kyoka Yamashita. She’s more tilted towards her entire legs, and how. As she reminds you every day of the week, they are immense from pretty much any angle she cares to shoot them at. Add her too to the counter of those who look like no one else I’ve seen. 

Karin Yukino: When you first see Karin’s age, you’ll think “Is that a typo?” No, it is not. Behold the youngest-looking 35-year-old you’ll ever see. If you catch her on a stream, she’s the youngest-sounding 35-year-old you’ll ever hear, too. Not that this diminishes how beautiful she really is, of course. For what it’s worth, she’s the only one whose age we know in her own group. She’s not afraid to admit it, and nor should she be.

Yuzuki Watase: Cute and round, talented and still young, worthy of more opportunities, yet being within the Bushiroad sphere they’ll be hard to come by. But she is getting more to think about, being a part of Ave Mujica now on top of her excellent role in Lyrical Lily, where her cuteness makes her its most fitting member of all. Ought to be recognised by other series out there.

Kotoko Sasaki: I talked about mainstream group’s biggest contributions being those it leaves behind, and here’s another case for that viewpoint. Kotoko Sasaki came out of Nogizaka and into Love Live for its Hasunosora project, and is proving to be the best of a rapidly rising bunch. An elegant and powerful figure, complimenting her groupmates, she’s great to behold live. Finally, her Twitter feed is most ideal for cat lovers, because she eats one good meal of food every day. It is delicious.

Nako Misaki: For someone who her groupmates in Liella have forever classified as the most motherly, Nako can also prove to be the most emotional from time to time. She might have more determination than any other in Liella, and can measure up to the rest of them on sheer cuteness and humour. Another simply essential piece of what started out as, and still is, one of the most magical puzzles.

Nakane Nanoka: There’s always room for someone who just has a little bit of everything, and Nakane Nanoka is worthy of being that girl. Lovely, conventional looks, allied to another infectious smile, topped off with a beautiful, natural chest gives her more than enough appeal for most. One who goes under the radar often, and unreasonably so. She’s well worth a look.

Nagisa Aoyama: When Mimo packs it in sooner or later – and it might not be too far away – Nagisa Aoyama is picking up her mantle as the fairest, most beautiful of them all. I don’t say this out of sheer personal belief, either. Whisper her name to those around and watch the words of admiration tumble out. Possibly in the wrong order, so captivating is Nagi’s natural charm. And now her big-time photobook’s come out…hoo boy, can you see just what a sight to behold she is.

Sayuri Date: From one simple audition to super-stardom, Sayuri Date’s rise from such a young age has been glorious. Within this pint-sized powerhouse packs one of the most magnificent voices we have yet seen. There’s something almost chuckle-worthy in how she has to hold it back sometimes. Expressive and seamless looks complete the picture. Much beloved, and for so many good reasons. 

Hana Okamoto: I talked about Yasuyo Saito earlier, but I haven’t touched on her running mate yet, Hana Okamoto. Improbably, she’s even taller (just about). But her outward appearance is a more classically appealing look, simple, soft sweetness allied to a genuinely top-notch body. If you fall for Hana, you will fall for her hard.

Konan Koyoi: Am I slightly ashamed having an AV actress on this? Yes. Do I care really? No. So here’s Konan Koyoi. You can tell she’s taking more than a fair share of influence from one of the industry’s former crown jewels in Yua Mikami, but Konan has her beat. Will the void be filled? Across AV, there’s a lot of potential going around for that to happen. Konan ought to do it.

Blamagi Tanaka: One more fitness freak for you. This one, though, is more akin to the sorts you find at the oft-celebrated muscle girl cafes. Blamagi’s got enough about her all round though to make her well worth your while. Just make sure you find the rest of her appeal over those thighs of hers. They’re quite a sight.

Aya Emori: Liella is stacked with talent, but this is its biggest rising star of all. The scale of Aya Emori’s improvement in the back end of this year has been astonishing, growing into a look that has a little bit of everything, and she’s now delving into the photobook stakes too, and dipping straight into the saucy end as well. Yet another staggeringly brilliant find from this group, one who is only set to make them even more elite.

Yuria Sato: Quite possibly the best seiyuu you have never heard of. As a key exponent of one of Revue’s lone bright spots these days, even among such lovely talents as Hina Aoki, Kanon Matsuzawa, Ruka Fukagawa and Kokoro Kuge, Yuria Sato is the pick of the series’ newest members, on grounds of the sheer combination of sweetness and beauty. Deserves a proper break-out somewhere, some day.

Minami Tsuda: Funnily enough for someone often known to voice huskier girls, Minami Tsuda’s best roles are probably more regularly-pitched ones. That speaks to a great range for someone who’s thrived off it for years and years. One of the bigger success stories from the CG wave, yet still perhaps one of the less heralded ones.

Ranran Fujii: Oh no, it’s another AV actress. One who gives a real insight into the degrees of popularity in the industry. Ranran feels reasonably low down her agency’s pecking order, for all her considerable proportions, yet still has follower counts that would make many talents here blanch. Is she gonna be up your street too in this respect? …Only you can decide.

Moe Nishimura: There are chika idols, and then there are chika idols. And when starting from the bottom of the barrel, it isn’t like shooting fish in that barrel. Instead, you have to fish way outside it. God knows what possessed Moe Nishimura to fish for me. But she did. She actually liked some tweets of mine, and I feel obliged to reward her for her fishing expedition. Here you go, Moe. Have my interest, for a bit. 

Mayuka Rami: There was no such inauthenticity for this one, though. She only started doing photoshoots a couple of months ago, but Mayuka Rami has just…got something. No one identifies a photogenic quite like 01familia, and even with a number of trainees coming on song – and joining their idol groups – the fact Mayuka caught my notice so early on can only be a good thing. Helps that, just like who we started with, she’s a baseball lover (and Swallows fan). Could she be the find of this year? Ask me this time next year.